BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and ASHZEL HACHERO
OPERATIONS and availability of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in Metro Manila have normalized amid the reported presence of protesters in some choke points, the Inter-agency Task Force “Tigil Pasada” reported to Malacañang yesterday on the second day of the week-long transport holiday against the government’s move to modernize old and traditional jeepneys.
The task force said there were “isolated” presence of rallyists at the vicinity of the Heritage Hotel in Baclaran, Pasay City; the old transport terminal in Alabang, Muntinlupa; in Monumento, Caloocan City; and at Catmon/Saint Francis Street in Malabon.
It said commuters affected by the strike, which started on Monday and is expected to end on Friday, were assisted by local government units which have jurisdiction over the areas.
Transport group Manibela has announced a transport holiday in Metro Manila and other parts of the country from March 6 to 12 opposing the scheduled implementation of the PUV Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Procopio Lipana said the public transport situation in the metropolis is “back to normal.”
“Batay sa transport strike monitoring ng MMDA, normal na ang sitwasyon bagamat may mangilan-ngilan na nagsasagawa ng tigil-pasada sa bahagi ng Quezon City at Monumento sa Caloocan (Based on the MMDA’s transport strike monitoring, the situation has returned to normal except for a small number of strikers in some parts of Quezon City and Monumento in Caloocan),” Lipana said.
The MMDA also said 4,794 passengers were assisted and provided free transportation on Monday, the first day of the protest action, noting that the government had prepared for the protest action and implemented contingencies to minimize its impact on commuters.
Among those involved in the preparations were the MMDA, the Office of the Executive Secretary, OCD-NCR, DOTr, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR).
Lipana said the MMDA has received requests from local officials to start recalling contingency vehicles which were deployed to provide “Libreng Sakay” to stranded passengers as jeepneys have resumed plying their regular routes.
“Sa kabila nito, naka-standby pa rin ang mga sasakyan at mga personnel upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga pasahero (Despite the requests, our vehicles and personnel remain on standby and are ready to assist affected passengers),” he said.
The MMDA put on standby 14 buses to provide free transport to commuters during Tuesday’s peak hours of 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The buses were fielded to ferry passengers at EDSA Roxas Boulevard southbound to Sucat and FTI-Taguig, EDSA Timog going to Monumento, Philcoa going to San Mateo in Rizal and Monumento to Polo, Valenzuela.
COOPERATIVES
DOTr-Office of Transportation Cooperatives chairperson Jesus Ferdinand Ortega on Tuesday reiterated the government’s appeal for traditional jeepney operators and drivers to form a cooperative to enjoy the benefits of the modernization program.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, Ortega said the DOTr is providing a step-by-step assistance to operators to guide their consolidation efforts.
As of January, this year, Ortega said there are more than 1,800 cooperatives with over 200,000 members, as compared to the pre-pandemic figure of 400 cooperatives.
He reminded jeepney sector stakeholders that franchises of traditional jeepney operators will be deactivated once the December 31, 2023 deadline takes effect, with only one franchise given per cooperative.
Ortega underscored the advantages of forming cooperatives, saying drivers will shift from the boundary system to the daily salary scheme, where drivers will only be required to drive 8 hours daily; and the provision of Social Security Services and PhilHealth benefits to drivers.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it is open to maintaining the look of traditional jeepneys but said these should be compliant to the Philippine National Standards set by the Bureau of Product Standards under the Department of Trade and Industry.
LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III made the statement as he led the introduction of a modernized jeepney but with a traditional look to the media yesterday.
“The modernized jeep that you saw is clear proof that the traditional look can be maintained so the possibility of a phase out is very, very remote. What we only wanted was to improve the roadworthiness of the vehicle,” Guadiz said.
Among the most noticeable features of the modern jeepney include a higher ceiling so passengers can stand inside, with doors on the right side near the driver and another at the back as exit points. It can also be fitted with air-conditioners or even small electric fans for a non-airconditioned environment, plus other features such as CCTV cameras for security.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) said the week-long transport strike could cost the economy about a billion pesos “as if we are at the height of the new coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.”
Sergio Ortiz-Luis, ECOP president, likened the strike to Alert Level 2 of the pandemic restrictions which limited the operations of public transportation and prohibited face-to-face classes in schools and office work.
Ortiz-Luis noted that at the height of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, economic losses were estimated at P1.2 billion to P3.5 billion a week.
“ECOP sympathizes with the jeepney drivers and operators for the apparent lack of consultation by government in pursuing the public utility vehicle modernization,” he said, as he urged both sides to find a workable solution to the concerns raised by the jeepney sector. — With Myla Iglesias and Irma Isip
