By Argyll Cyrus Geducos The government is studying the possibility of giving another round of cash assistance to jeepney drivers displaced by the COVID-19 general community quarantine (GCQ), Malacañang said. Public utility jeepneys (PUJ) pass along Quezon Avenue (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement as jeepney drivers and operators continue to appeal to the government to allow them to resume operations under the GCQ. In his Thursday presser, Roque said they are studying the possibility of giving cash aid to jeepney drivers for the month of June. "Pinag-aaralan na po na bigyan ng pangatlong buwang ayuda ang mga jeepney drivers na nawalan ng hanapbuhay dahil hindi pa po pinapayagang bumiyahe ang ating mga jeepney. (The government is now studying the possibility of giving cash aid to jeepney drivers who lost their livelihood because they cannot operate)," he said. "Alam naman natin na mahirap talaga ang buhay sa kanila dahil hindi pa sila pinpayagang pumasada. So hinahanda na po ang additional ayuda just for jeepney drivers. (We know that this is really difficult for them because they are not allowed to operate. So we are now preparing an additional cash aid just for them)," he added. Six jeepney drivers were arrested in Caloocan this week for staging a protest against the government's ban on passenger jeepneys. Charges of disobedience to social distancing and mass gathering and resistance to persons in authority would be filed against them. Jeepney phaseout Meanwhile, Roque said that the government will do everything it can to help jeepney drivers if the traditional jeepneys would be phased out due to the government's modernization program. "Gagawin po natin ang lahat ng kaya nating gawin para magpatuloy sila magkaroon ng hanapbuhay. (We will do everything we can so that they can continue making a living) using the modernized jeepneys," he said. "Ganoon lang naman po yun (That's how it goes). As we phase out the old jeepneys, we have to allow the new jeepneys to come in," he added. This week, Roque said traditional jeepneys will not make a comeback anytime soon because of the impossibility of implementing physical distancing in the said vehicles. He, however, assured jeepney drivers that the government is thinking of ways to help them, including the possibility of hiring them as contact tracers. "We're actually considering alternative livelihoods for them. There is a suggestion that they be employed as contact-tracers because we do need about 120,000 of them, there's only about 30,000 employed so far," he said in an interview over ANC on Wednesday. "We're also considering the complete reconfiguration of the jeepney to comply with minimum health standards," he added.