House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda has urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to restore all public utility jeepney (PUJ) routes as a countermeasure to the fuel price surge.
He also called on the LTFRB to officially announce the full reopening of public utility bus routes.
Following the spike in oil prices, Salceda is pushing for the full reopening of the PUJ routes as a way to reduce the economic blow to consumers.
A massive price hike had just been imposed on pump fuel. Gasoline price went up P3.60 per liter, diesel by P5.85 per liter, and kerosene by P4.10 per liter.
“PUJs, as you know, are better ventilated than buses, making them safer, in that respect, from Covid-19. Public transport availability is also a critical component of the country’s strategy to mitigate the impacts of ongoing fuel price hikes,” Salceda wrote in a letter to LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra on Tuesday, March 8.
“There is no longer any plausible reason for the restrictions . We already allow massive election rally crowds, face-to-face work and classes, and we have dropped contact tracing requirements. Jeepney drivers should not be left behind in our burgeoning economic recovery,” he continued.
A day earlier, during the House Fuel Crisis Ad Hoc Committee meeting, Delgra announced to the panel that the LTFRB had lifted all restrictions on provincial bus routes.
Salceda thus followed up on his request to the LTFRB to let the public know about the reopened bus routes.
“I thank the LTFRB, under your leadership, for announcing during our hearing with the Ad Hoc Committee on the Fuel Crisis, that there are no longer any restrictions on public utility bus routes. To follow up on this announcement, may I urge the LTFRB to issue an official announcement and guidelines on the matter,” Salceda added.