Transport group asks mayor to lobby for more passengers

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

A transport group asked the help of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas in convincing the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow more passengers in public utility vehicles (PUV) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter dated Nov 20, 2020, the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) headed by chairman Raymundo Parcon and general manager Halley Alcarde asked Treñas to talk to LTFRB and convince the agency to increase PUV capacity from 11 passengers to at least 15, depending on the capacity of the vehicle.

Restrictions imposed by LTFRB, an attached agency of the Department of Transportation, only allow 50 percent capacity in PUVs to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

The restriction has not only affected the income of PUV drivers and operators, but hefty fines also threatened to eat into their already meager earning.

In the letter, WVTC said that the city should not be cowed by the effects of COVID-19.

“Rather, we should increase our campaign on how to prevent it and strongly educate our drivers and operators on their significant contributions to the mitigation and control of its spread,” the transport group said.

In a phone interview, Parcon said Treñas himself suggested that they write the letter so that the latter can lobby their call with LTFRB.

“Currently, we are only allowed five passengers each on the two rows of back benches. If you include 1 passenger in the front seat, we can only accommodate 11 passengers. Our call is to add two more passengers in the back seats with the required barriers so we can transport a minimum of 15 passengers,” he added.

Parcon said they observed that more passengers are now going out and the number of jeepneys also increased, but they are still limited in terms of allowed capacity.

“During rush hour, there are a lot of passengers but we cannot carry more than what is prescribed. That’s why we asked the help of Mayor Treñas so that we can cater to more passengers and improve our income as well,” Parcon said.

He added that increasing the passenger is the only way to cushion the effects of COVID-related restrictions instead of hiking the minimum fare.

To recall, the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (ICLAJODA), which Parcon also heads, asked for a P15 minimum fare for the first four kilometers, up from current P9 fare and P1.50 for every successive kilometer.

The fare hike is in view of the physical distancing rule in PUVs.

But Parcon said they dropped the fare hike petition as they observed that things are gradually returning to normal.

“And we also pity the passengers who will suffer the brunt of higher fares. We also consider the economic repercussions of the fare increase amid the pandemic.”

If LTFRB grants their plea, Parcon promised to continue following health protocols to avert another outbreak in infections in the transport sector.

“We promised to be very careful and we intend to keep our word to the local government,” he said.