ILOILO City – Around 200 modernized jeepneys in this city and Iloilo province are offering free rides – for two months – amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This Free Ride Service Program is being undertaken by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under the Service Contracting Program (SCP).
The free ride program started on April 19, according to Engineer Joshua Gaquit of LTFRB Region 6’s Public Utility Modernization Program, in an interview over state-owned DYLL Radyo Pilipinas.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas hailed the program.
“Our residents can save money…not just (for) a day, but for two months!…Our authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) are the priority. This very difficult time, I am very proud of the compassion of every Ilonggos,” he said.
The SCP is one of the programs under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2). It aims to help the transport sector that has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
The SCP is available to drivers of modernized jeepneys, traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and passenger buses that are plying active routes.
Based on Memorandum Circular No. 2021-029, drivers or operators of modern PUJs plying Iloilo City routes will receive P52.50 per kilometer while P82.50 per kilometer for the provincial modernized jeepneys. They were equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS)-capable mobile phones to determine their travel length.
Among the routes of modernized jeepneys with free rides are Iloilo City, San Joaquin, San Miguel, and Cabatuan.
‘MASAKIT-SAKIT’
Though the traditional jeepneys also availed themselves of the P27 per kilometer aid, drivers and operators in Iloilo City are not joining or implementing the “libre sakay.”
“Wala kita ‘ya naglibre sakay kay sa aton ‘ya ang ginabayad sang gobyerno P27 lang per kilometer,” said Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon, president of the Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA).
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.
He added that they will request the DOTr to make the free ride available only to frontliners or health workers and 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
