The chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced that traditional jeepneys may soon be allowed to operate in additional areas this week.
In an online press briefing, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said they will issue a memorandum circular either today (Tuesday) or tomorrow (Wednesday) to allow public-utility jeepneys (PUJ) to operate.
“But in order for [a] traditional jeepney to be allowed to resume its operation, it should be ‘roadworthy,’” Delgra said.
He noted that traditional jeepneys are at the bottom of the hierarchy of public transportation of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) due to difficulty in imposing social distancing to their passengers.
In Metro Manila, DOTr had already allowed the resumption of operation of trains, buses, taxis and transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) units earlier this month.
On Monday, the LTFRB also announced it allowed 980 units of UV express to operate in 47 routes in Metro Manila following a strict point-to-point scheme.
Delgra said that PUJs will be allowed to operate in areas, where there is still insufficient number of public transportation.
In a separate virtual news briefing, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said traditional jeepneys are already allowed in areas like Bulacan, Pampanga, Cagayan De Oro, South Cotobato, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN.
“But for Metro Manila, let us wait for the decision of LTFRB [on that matter],” Roque said.
Transportation and labor groups have been calling on the government to allow traditional jeepneys to resume their operations, which have been suspended for at least three months.
The government has floated interventions for affected (PUJ) drivers, including a third tranche of cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and for the DoTR to tap them as delivery service providers.
None of the said proposals have been realized to date.