Jeepneys, dubbed the Philippines “king of the road,” may soon be allowed to hit the road after being banned for more than three months due to the COVID 19, but subject to health standards, Malacanang said Thursday.
READ: NCR braces for GCQ without buses, jeepneys
Palace spokesperson Harry Roque told a news briefing the government was now working on the possibility to gradually relax transportation restrictions to allow jeepneys and other public transportation to ply their regular routes to solve public transportation shortage amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the Department of Transportation’s guidelines on the reopening of public transportation, modern jeepneys would only be allowed to resume operations starting June 22.
“Jeepneys that were deemed roadworthy may soon be allowed to ply roads subject to health standards,” Roque said.
Jeepneys and UV Express vehicles remain prohibited to ply their routes even as more businesses were allowed to resume partial operations under a general community quarantine (GCQ).
The government even proposed that jeepney drivers who were displaced by the pandemic might be hired as contact tracers to boost the country’s testing efforts.
The government has prohibited the use of jeepneys for public transport due to difficulties in observing minimum health standards such as physical distancing.
The current general community quarantine and modified GCQ allow limited train, bus, taxi, and ride-share services.
“Jeepneys will be allowed but we are still fixing it. For example, we’re still identifying the routes as well as the number of jeepneys that will be allowed there,” Alberto Suansing, DOTR road sector consultant said.
READ: ’No jeeps yet, get drivers as contact tracers’
‘Special suit’
Malacañang said the Department of Health was studying whether a “special suit” proposed by a ride-hailing firm would ensure physical distancing in motorcycle taxi services.
At present, back-riding on motorcycles is prohibited to mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Last month, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. asked the government to allow motorcycle riders to have one back-riding passenger in areas under general community quarantine.
Garbin suggested the motorcycle driver and the passenger be strictly required to wear helmets and face shields as well as face masks.
Passengers should also be required to wear jackets and pants as minimum protective clothing, he added.
At the same time, Suansing said “several “challenges” must be resolved first before provincial buses would be allowed to resume operations, adding there was still a need to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) and secure their approval for provincial buses to pass through their respective areas.
“…That has to be coordinated with the Inter-Agency Task Force because challenges remain there,” he said during the Laging Handa virtual briefing.
The DOTr earlier announced a two-phased approach in the resumption of public transportation, where it said provincial buses were suspended until June 21.
The first phase of the resumption of public transportation which started on June 1 allowed trains and bus augmentation, taxis, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), shuttle services, point-to-point buses, and bicycles.
The second phase, which was initially scheduled to start on June 22, covered public utility buses, modern public utility vehicles or jeepneys, and UV Express.
READ: Valenzuela jeepney drivers get food packs while operations still on hold
Free bicycles
Meanwhile, amid the extension of the GCQ until June 30, Quezon City Councilor Winston Castelo is giving out free bicycles to poor and deserving workers who have no other means of public transportation in going to work.
“We will be giving at least 20 units for the first batch,” he told the Manila Standard.
“More to come,” he said.
He cited the initiative of his wife, Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo, to seek donations in looking after the welfare of District 2.
He claimed his group of businessmen-friends or the so-called “Warriors Against COVID-19” had donated the bicycles and had been supporting their advocacy to help poor families from District 2.
He said he was taken aback after learning “many residents affected by the lockdown had to sacrifice walking for several hours due to lack of money, and shortage of public transportation units and options.
26 airports
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said 26 airports had been allowed to operate commercial flights with Local Government Units (PGUs) and IATF clearance as of June 17, 2020 to resume commercial flights.
CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said the 26 airports were given the go-ahead by LGUs to operate commercial flights out of 46 airports and international airports in the country.
Six airports are set to start accepting commercial flights on later dates while some airports are allowed for commercial flights subject to different documentary and passenger LGU restrictions.
The 26 airports allowed to operate: Romblon Airport, Naga Airport, Manila International Airport, Clark International Airport, Cauayan Airport, Palanan Airport, Languindingan Airport, Dipolog Airport, Pagadian Airport, Jolo Airport;
Borongan Airport, Antique Airport, Masbate Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Cotobato Airport, Zamboanga Airport, Davao International Airport, General Santos Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport; Tacloban Airport, Legazpi Airport, Ormoc Airport, Catbalogan Airport, San Jose Airport, Catarman Airport and Ozamiz Airport. With Che Santos
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