The scorching heat is forcing jeepney drivers in Pangasinan to cut down their trips, fearing health risks from long hours on the road.

Arthur Villacuarta, a jeepney driver plying the Lucao route, now operates for only about seven hours daily instead of the usual ten.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., he takes a break, unable to endure the extreme heat.

“Pahinga talaga sa sobrang init. Hindi kaya ng katawan — aanhin mo kasi ang malaking kita tapos sa ospital ka lang mapunta,” Villacuarta said.

Arnel Delos Santos, another driver, also parks his jeep under a tree during midday and resumes his trips only after 4 p.m.

“Mainit ang panahon, pati makina, mainit din. Talagang hindi kaya,” he said.

The One Pangasinan Transport Federation reports that around 500 jeepneys, or about 20 percent of public utility vehicles in the province, do not operate from noon until mid-afternoon due to the heat.

“Hindi mo maiwasan na magpapahinga sila kung talagang mainit. Humihinto sila, hindi naman lahat pero sa tingin ko ‘yung iba na alam nilang mayroon silang hypertension ay nagpapahinga sila,” Bernard Tuliao, president of the federation, said.

Despite the reduction in jeepney trips, the transport system remains unaffected as many air-conditioned modern jeepneys continue to operate.

The federation is closely monitoring the health of drivers, particularly those aged 50 and above, who make up over 20 percent of the province’s transport workforce.