ILOILO City – Modernized jeepneys plying the city and province of Iloilo are being harassed for offering “libre sakay” (free ride) to the riding public.
Two transport cooperatives have alerted the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 about the harassment, according to Director Richard Osmeña.
The “libre sakay” scheme is a two-month service contracting program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTFRB.
“We condemn in the strongest term these harassments meant to intimidate our drivers and transport cooperatives. We also call on concerned authorities for a speedy investigation and to bring the culprits to justice,” Osmeña said in a statement.
The Metro Iloilo Transport Service Cooperative (MITSCOOP) reported to the LTFRB that one of its drivers was threatened by a bystander with a stone on San Miguel Street in San Miguel, Iloilo.
On the other hand, the Alliance of Provincial Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperatives (APODTC) reported that an unidentified man threw a stone at their unit in Barangay Crossing Dapuyan, San Joaquin, Iloilo.
The stone shattered the left window of the modern PUJ.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in both incidents.
This libre sakay scheme aims to provide assistance to public transport drivers hit by the coronavirus pandemic’s economic fallout.
“The threats were totally unnecessary and uncalled for,” Osmeña stressed.
The regional director further underscored that the Service Contracting Program, which is part of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2), also eases the economic burden of commuters by providing them free ride for at least some period of time.
“It is unfortunate that these incidents happened during these challenging times when our national government agencies are finding innovative ways to support our transport sector,” he lamented.
Osmeña urged local transport cooperative leaders not to be cowed by these threats.
“The DOTr and LTFRB are rallying behind the transport sector and the riding public during these incredibly difficult times,” he added.
Earlier, traditional jeepney drivers lamented that their income were adversely affected by the “libre sakay” scheme because passengers were opting to ride on the modernized ones.
Though traditional jeepneys also availed themselves of the P27 per kilometer aid, drivers and operators in Iloilo City decided not to join the “libre sakay” scheme.
“Wala kita ‘ya naglibre sakay kay sa aton ‘ya ang ginabayad sang gobyerno P27 lang per kilometer,” Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon, president of the Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA), said.
While they understand the intention of the free ride program, Parcon lamented that this deprives them of passengers, thus income loss. He said passengers would naturally prefer to take modernized jeepneys because the fare is free.
“Masakit-sakit sa hanay sang mga traditional jeeps nga pirdi sila,” said Parcon.
They requested the DOTr to make the free ride available only to frontliners or health workers and authorized persons outside residence (APORs).
“Sa subong damu complaints sa opisina naton gikan sa mga drivers regarding sa sini nga ‘libre sakay’ kay kaluluoy ang iban nga drivers. Pero wala kita sang may mahimo kay iya ini sang gobyerno,” said Parcon./PN
