House transportation panel backs jeep operations amid COVID-19 quarantine

The House Committee on Transportation is supporting the resumption of the operations of jeeps and motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila amid the COVID-19 pandemic provided they comply with minimum health standards.

This developed during a hearing on Thursday when the House panel headed by Edgar Sarmiento of Samar adopted separate motions endorsing such calls.

The government has given limited to zero routes for jeeps and prohibited motorcycle riders from having a passenger in favor of modern public utility vehicles even if quarantine protocols have been eased in Metro Manila since June 1 to allow 10 to 50% of mass transport vehicles to operate.

“Mga limang buwan na…iyong jeepney drivers, majority sa kanila hindi nakakapagtrabaho. Kayo rin [sa LTFRB] ang nang-aapi sa ating mga drivers. Hindi ko talaga makuha sa logic kung bakit ‘yung mga jeepney drivers na ‘to ay hinuli sa hierarchy at bakit paisa isa, batch by batch,” said France Castro of Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list.

It was Castro who moved to support having jeeps in all the routes . The motion was seconded by her colleagues and was carried.

“Napaka-insensitive nitong LTFRB at DOTR (Department of Transportation). I move na lahat ng mga ruta buksan na with the required minimum health protocol. Karamihan po ng magulang ng mga estudyante ay mga jeepney drivers. Magpapasukan pa naman tapos wala silang kita,” Castro said.

The government has been arguing that physical distancing required not to spread COVID-19 cannot be implemented inside the cramped space of jeep, tricycles and motorcycles. 

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire, however, already said in June that individuals will not be at risk of getting COVID-19 as long as they wear masks and maintain distance from other persons when riding a vehicle regardless if it is air-conditioned or an open-air vehicle.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra justified the limited PUJ operation by citing minimum health standards but conceded that such limit cannot go on forever.

“I hear the sentiment of Honorable Castro. However, we take into principal consideration ‘yung pandemya, ‘yung public health issue dulot ng pandemya,” Delgra said.

“There is no silver bullet for the very complex problem we are confronted with, so tulong-tulong po tayo rito. Tuloy tuloy pa rin naman ‘yung pagbukas ng ibang ruta, and I will refer it to my technical team,” Delgra added.

Quezon City representatives Precious Castelo, for her part, underscored that extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, including allowing motorcycle taxis to operate.

“Napakaimportante na magkaroon tayo ng karagdagang sasakyan. Nahihirapan ang ating mga commuter, hindi naman lahat nakakabili ng bisikleta. Kaya [naman] napakahalaga nito ngayon, not only for the livelihood of drivers but as well as commuters and frontliners,” Castelo said.

“I reiterate my previous motion urging the Inter Agency and National Task Force to allow ride sharing for motorcycle taxis, provided that the riders or drivers shall provide their own helmet at sila ay nakaprotective gear, nakamask, at mayroon silang protective barrier na hindi naman magiging cause ng accident sa ating pasahero,” she added.

Noli Eala, Vice President for Corporate Affairs of Joyride, agreed.

"Considering the new conditions related to COVID-19, all the more reason to extend the pilot run of motorcycle taxis. Allowing motorcycle taxis to operate is the fastest way to aid our commuting public pending a passage of legislation on this," Eala said. -NB, GMA News