The absence of traditional jeepneys in Metro Manila could worsen public transportation crisis as the shortage will hit 10 million passengers daily trips, according to Move As One Coalition.
“If we do not allow traditional jeepneys to operate the deficit will be about 10 million passenger trips. That is already assuming only 50 percent of public transport demand will return,” Dr. Robert Siy, urban planner and transport expert at Move As One Coalition told the virtual briefing hosted by COVID-19 Action Network Philippines Thursday.
“For us, it is important to allow or find some ways to increase the current capacity of the public transport,” Siy said.
He said that pre-COVID, there were 35 million daily trips in Metro Manila, of which 25 percent was private vehicles and 80 percent public transport.
“If we resume the public transport vehicle that we have in Metro Manila, our estimate is that only about 8 million out of the 14 million will be served by public transport because of the physical distancing,” Siy said.
“We will only have so much capacity in the train, buses and jeepneys. All that capacity is reduced because of the physical distancing, so even (if) we put out all the traditional jeepneys we will be short in terms of serving the demand,” he added.
The Department of Transportation barred traditional jeepneys as it observed a “hierarchy of public transportation,” wherein jeepney was at the bottom because of the difficulty in physical distancing.
At present, the DOTr only allowed mass rail transit, taxis, TNVS, 31 rationalized city bus routes, and modern jeepneys.
Ernesto Cruz, president of the National Confederation of Transport Networks, urged the government to allow them to operate as soon as possible.
“The drivers don’t need financial assistance. Let them have their trips. It’s hard for them that their families are hungry,” Cruz said.
Cruz said the drivers were losing P600 daily since the government implemented the community quarantine in the country.
To encourage drivers and operators to join the jeepney modernization, the DOTr has approved to double the equity subsidy from P80,000 to P160,000 for operators joining the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, with retroactive effectivity.
READ: UV Express, jeeps back next week
A directive was signed by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade that amended a provision in Department Order 2018-016 to address the affordability of modern PUV units and financial viability of the program for drivers and operators participating in the PUVMP.
From P80,000, the Department will now grant P160,000 per PUV unit as equity subsidy for existing PUV operators with valid franchises and PUV operators applying for new or developmental routes under the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines.
The move aims to further assist drivers and operators as they transition to modern PUVs, especially during the pandemic.
Tugade said the increase in equity subsidy was a way of helping stakeholders participating in the PUVMP as the country begins to gradually shift to the “new normal” amid the coronavirus disease situation.
Tugade also noted the equity subsidy increase also included those with applications from July 31, 2018.
The DOTr also completed the deployment of 31 rationalized city bus routes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) also gradually opened new rationalized city bus routes to cater to commuters needs.
For Phase 1, implemented from June 1-21, operations of rail lines, bus augmentation system, taxis, and Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) have resumed. Some local government units (LGUs) have allowed tricycles to operate.
As of June 22, the LTFRB has listed 41,639 operational PUVs in Metro Manila, with 22,230 TNVS units and 19,409 taxis.
Meanwhile, there are 271 P2P buses operating in 28 routes
For the phase 2, which started on June 22, other modes of transport are gradually being allowed to operate.
Modern PUVs commenced operations in 15 routes to serve areas in Metro Manila. Today, 24 June 2020, the LTFRB opens 9 new routes.
It will be followed by the opening of another 10 routes on Friday, June 26.
READ: Groups slam jeepney phaseout, Palace says options up for some
“More PUV operators and drivers can now participate in the PUV Modernization Program as they are assured of access to loans especially from government-run banks. We are assuring our PUV drivers and operators that the DOTr and the LTFRB are always here to support their movement towards modernization,” Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra said.
In a related development, Malacañang denied speculation the government was using the COVID-19 pandemic as a justification to take traditional jeepneys off the roads.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the jeepney modernization program, which targets aging vehicles, had nothing to with the COVID-19 crisis that sidelined thousands of drivers.
Some jeepney drivers have mulled the possibility of burning their units in protest as the government continues to give them a runaround on when they will be allowed to ply the streets again amid the pandemic.
At the same time, Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite pooh-poohed Roque’s statement there was still no assurance for the lifting of the ban on traditional jeepneys, contrary to the earlier statement of Delgra that the PUVs could return to the road next week.
Gaite said the contradicting statements of the Palace and the LTFRB, and their apparent use of the pandemic as an excuse to push the jeepney phaseout were “putting the lives and livelihood of thousands of jeepney drivers and operators in limbo.”
READ: Government eyes jeep phaseout
“Obviously, there are government officials who are taking advantage of the pandemic to pull off the jeepney phaseout, and possibly, are set to profit from the multi-billion ‘modernization’ deal,” Gaite said in a statement.