'Roadworth' jeepneys can operate in GCQ
Published May 2, 2020 03:42 pm
By Alexandria San Juan
Old jeepneys can resume their operations in areas placed under the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ), an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Saturday, May 1.
Public utility jeepneys (PUJ) pass along Quezon Avenue (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon in an interview over the weekend said old jeepneys will still be allowed to operate and can serve as augmentation if modern jeeps are not enough to ferry commuters in an area under GCQ. "Actually, pwede rin silang mag-operate kapag nakita na may kakulangan sa public transport doon sa lugar kung saan nag-ooperate ang ating mga modernized jeeps," Tuazon explained.
(They can also operate if found that modern jeepneys are not enough to service passengers where they operate.)
But according to the DOTr official, traditional public utility jeepneys should be "roadworthy" before they will be allowed to operate and serve passengers again. "Maaari silang mag-operate pero titingnan pa rin natin 'yung tinatawag na roadworthiness ng mga jeep. 'Yung mga medyo mausok at hindi na maayos ang lagay ng sasakyan, hindi ito papayagan. Kailangang makita na roadworthy sila," he said.
(They can operate but we will still check if they are roadworthy. Those smoke belcher PUJs and dilapidated ones will not be allowed to travel.)
Tuazon also reminded all public utility vehicles (PUVs), including passenger jeepneys, that they should strictly follow health protocols and guidelines issued by the Department to reduce contact, transmission, and the spread of the virus. These include the "no face mask, no travel" policy for drivers and passengers, and the installation of non-permeable material or acetate inside the vehicle to separate the driver from the passengers.
"Yung driver, kailangan separated from the passenger by non-permeable materials like acetate. Dahil nga maliit lang ang espasyo ng ating mga lumang jeep, palalagyan din natin ng separator ang bawat pasahero," Tuazon said.
(The driver should be separated from the passengers through non-permeable materials like acetate. As the traditional jeepneys are usually cramped, a separator should also be installed in between passengers.)
"Kailangang i-disinfect rin ang mga sasakyan after every round trip kasi 'yung acetate kinakapitan rin ng virus, kaya kailangan linisin," he added.
(The vehicles should also be disinfected after every round trip because the virus also clings to the acetate, so it should be cleaned regularly.)
According to Tuazon, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Land Transportation Office are in charge to ensure that PUJs are adhering to the DOTr's guidelines. Tuazon also mentioned that the LTFRB will issue special permits to PUVs who will be allowed to travel amid GCQ. The board earlier said that drivers and operators may apply for the permit, free of charge, through LTFRB offices or by email through the agency's online channels.
The DOTr earlier clarified that modernized jeepneys are prioritized due to its front-facing seats, wider interiors, and an automated fare collection system which prevents close contact of passengers. Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) has lamented this decision of the DOTr, adding that they are slowly being eased out in the resumption of public transportation at a reduced capacity under GCQ.
PISTON President Emeritus George San Mateo said the government is only using the pandemic to implement the permanent phase-out of old jeepneys, arguing that they can also follow the guidelines on physical distancing and the mandatory use of face masks and provision of sanitizers.
"Magkakaroon ng malaking problema sa kakulangan ng masasakyan ng mga mananakay kapag hindi papayagan ng gobyerno na pumasada ang jeepneys. Kapag hindi pinahintulutan pumasada ang jeepneys, tiyak maraming mananakay ang mapeperwisyo at hindi makakasakay sa panahon ng GCQ," he added.
(A big problem will arise with the lack of transportation if the government doesn’t allow jeepneys to operate. There will be many who won’t be able to commute during the GCQ.)
Public utility jeepneys (PUJ) pass along Quezon Avenue (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon in an interview over the weekend said old jeepneys will still be allowed to operate and can serve as augmentation if modern jeeps are not enough to ferry commuters in an area under GCQ. "Actually, pwede rin silang mag-operate kapag nakita na may kakulangan sa public transport doon sa lugar kung saan nag-ooperate ang ating mga modernized jeeps," Tuazon explained.
(They can also operate if found that modern jeepneys are not enough to service passengers where they operate.)
But according to the DOTr official, traditional public utility jeepneys should be "roadworthy" before they will be allowed to operate and serve passengers again. "Maaari silang mag-operate pero titingnan pa rin natin 'yung tinatawag na roadworthiness ng mga jeep. 'Yung mga medyo mausok at hindi na maayos ang lagay ng sasakyan, hindi ito papayagan. Kailangang makita na roadworthy sila," he said.
(They can operate but we will still check if they are roadworthy. Those smoke belcher PUJs and dilapidated ones will not be allowed to travel.)
Tuazon also reminded all public utility vehicles (PUVs), including passenger jeepneys, that they should strictly follow health protocols and guidelines issued by the Department to reduce contact, transmission, and the spread of the virus. These include the "no face mask, no travel" policy for drivers and passengers, and the installation of non-permeable material or acetate inside the vehicle to separate the driver from the passengers.
"Yung driver, kailangan separated from the passenger by non-permeable materials like acetate. Dahil nga maliit lang ang espasyo ng ating mga lumang jeep, palalagyan din natin ng separator ang bawat pasahero," Tuazon said.
(The driver should be separated from the passengers through non-permeable materials like acetate. As the traditional jeepneys are usually cramped, a separator should also be installed in between passengers.)
"Kailangang i-disinfect rin ang mga sasakyan after every round trip kasi 'yung acetate kinakapitan rin ng virus, kaya kailangan linisin," he added.
(The vehicles should also be disinfected after every round trip because the virus also clings to the acetate, so it should be cleaned regularly.)
According to Tuazon, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Land Transportation Office are in charge to ensure that PUJs are adhering to the DOTr's guidelines. Tuazon also mentioned that the LTFRB will issue special permits to PUVs who will be allowed to travel amid GCQ. The board earlier said that drivers and operators may apply for the permit, free of charge, through LTFRB offices or by email through the agency's online channels.
The DOTr earlier clarified that modernized jeepneys are prioritized due to its front-facing seats, wider interiors, and an automated fare collection system which prevents close contact of passengers. Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) has lamented this decision of the DOTr, adding that they are slowly being eased out in the resumption of public transportation at a reduced capacity under GCQ.
PISTON President Emeritus George San Mateo said the government is only using the pandemic to implement the permanent phase-out of old jeepneys, arguing that they can also follow the guidelines on physical distancing and the mandatory use of face masks and provision of sanitizers.
"Magkakaroon ng malaking problema sa kakulangan ng masasakyan ng mga mananakay kapag hindi papayagan ng gobyerno na pumasada ang jeepneys. Kapag hindi pinahintulutan pumasada ang jeepneys, tiyak maraming mananakay ang mapeperwisyo at hindi makakasakay sa panahon ng GCQ," he added.
(A big problem will arise with the lack of transportation if the government doesn’t allow jeepneys to operate. There will be many who won’t be able to commute during the GCQ.)