ILOILO City – Transport groups in this city want to increase the number of passengers that can ride on public utility jeepneys.
Increasing the PUJ capacity can help ease rush hours when scores of commuters spill over into streets, according to Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon, president of the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA).
He also said that because of the jeepneys’ reduced carrying capacity, commuters have had to wait longer to catch a ride.
Parcon told Panay News he asked Mayor Jerry Treñas for help in convincing the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 to increase ridership in jeepneys.
Traditional jeepneys have been allowed back on their routes but physical distancing protocols make them operate on just half-capacity and, thus, their earnings are also halved accordingly.
“Sa bilog nga adlaw P480 ang income sang mga drivers pero buhinan pa sang iban nga gasto. Naga-income lang sila P300 kag kis-a nagadala na lang P150 sa ila puloy-an. Amo na nga tama gid ka pigado ang aton drivers,” Parcon lamented.
Should LTFRB approve their proposal, Parcon said jeepney drivers and operators would still be enforcing minimum health standards like wearing of facemask and face shield and physical distancing.
Edgar Salarda, president of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide-Panay, echoed Parcon’s call to hike ridership in jeepneys.
“Gina-support gid namon ang proposal kay tama gid ka pigado sang biyahe. Kun magdugang ang pasahero, madugangan man ang income sang drivers,” said Salarda.
In September, the Department of Transportation reduced the distance between commuters inside mass transit initially to 0.75 meter. This was to be further brought down to 0.5 meter, then to 0.3 meter.
However, the plan was rescinded by President Rodrigo Duterte amid warnings from some members of the medical community, and the one-meter distance requirement between passengers was restored./PN
