Transport group calls new distancing rules a ‘win’

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

The latest pronouncement by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that shortened social distancing in public transport is a “win” for the transportation sector in Iloilo City, according to the president of a coalition of jeepney operators and drivers associations on Saturday.

The DOTr on Sept. 11, 2020 announced that it was relaxing safety restrictions on all public transport vehicles starting today, Sept. 14, from 1 meter to 0.75 meters.

It will be followed by a decrease of up to 0.5 meters distance on Sept. 28, and 0.3 meters distance on Oct. 12.

In a virtual media briefing on Saturday, DOTr Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. said that the passenger load of jeepneys will be increased by 10 to 12 percent, or 1 to 3 more passengers.

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Friday, however, that the new DOTr policy was still under discussion.

The World Health Organization strongly recommends maintaining a social distance of 1 meter between people to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo on Saturday, Rizalito Alido, president of the City Loop Integrated Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (CLIAJODA) in Iloilo City, said the new DOTr pronouncements made drivers and operators in the city “very happy”.

“This makes drivers and operators happy, as they have been struggling for quite some time, sometimes not even earning anything, for them to provide for their families. Journeys are very short, even with a 50 percent capacity only few people go out because only a few establishments are open. This [0.75-meter distance], equivalent to 75 percent [capacity] accommodation in our jeepneys, will be of great help,” Alido said.

He explained that the current system, which only allows for 50 percent capacity in jeepneys, is not enough to bring income to drivers as most people also refrain from going outside of their homes.

“Fifty percent is too low, and because there are fewer passengers outside, all of us in the transport [sector], both modern and traditional, are on the losing end. Sometimes our operators would allow the drivers to forego the boundary system, from the usual P300 to P500, and sometimes that’s not even enough. It’s a really difficult situation for us,” he said.

He added that the CLIAJODA was thankful for the considerations made by the transport department, and for listening to the clamor of jeepney operators and drivers.

“We are thankful for their consideration, and thankful because they listened to the complaints of drivers and operators, especially with the current situation. We have told the IATF before that we wouldn’t let COVID-19 win. We have protocols being followed, such as social distancing, face masks, face shields, and those will surely help us to prevent this disease while we are also improving the situation of our economy,” he said.

Alido said that jeepney operators and drivers are ready to implement the new policies.

He warned, however, that without the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board-Region 6 (LTFRB-6) receiving any guidelines on implementation, the new DOTr rules will only remain as a “verbal story”.

“I called up my president, and I went around in the terminals, advising them already to re-adjust. Anyway, we will verify the implementation on Monday to make our operations legal. We still have to check this with the LTFRB-6 considering that they haven’t received the guidelines yet. I hope the LTFRB-6 was able to receive the guidelines because if they haven’t, it remains to be mere stories without any papers,” Alido said.

In addition to the new social distancing edicts, Alido also announced that cashless payments in all public transport will be up soon.

Transport unions discourage passengers to pass their payments, or what the drivers in the city call “duhol-duhol”.

Instead, the passenger waits for their stop, and pays the driver directly.

The upcoming payment system is also part of the national government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program under the DOTr.

“Strictly, duhol-duhol is still not allowed. We are now adjusting, where the passenger will go to the driver.  For example, in the modernized jeepneys there is a cash box. Hopefully early part of next week, maybe we will start with the swipe cards, because that is obliged by the bank to us that we go on a cashless system. That is the program of our government, not only Public Utility Jeepneys, but also taxis, all PUVs should go to a cashless system in the DOTr’s project. We have undergone a seminar in Manila regarding the cashless system,” Alido said.

He said that the transport sector is also becoming positive as the city’s economy is slowly reopening after the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our businesses are slowly opening up again, and the mayor is pushing for this. We have said that we should not let COVID-19 win. We will continue to implement precautions and strict policies, and we will continue to operate while we’re not infected by the virus. We will have passengers again, our PUJs will now have additional income, especially our modernized jeepneys, which we have big amortization with the banks and we need to cope up with that,” he said.