ILOILO – Instead of one-meter physical distancing (PUJs), passengers of all public utility jeepneys in Western Visayas will be required to keep a seat-distance away from each other to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The new policy is set to be enforced on Monday, Sept. 28, according to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
This development came after a recent meeting of transport groups in Iloilo City, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office head Jeck Conlu, LTO-6 director Eric Tabaldo, and LTFRB-6 director Richard Osmeña.
“Ang na-agreehan namon didto nga one seat apart na lang. Kon lima ka pasahero sa kada side ang makarga sang dyep mo, himuon na lang nga tatlo kada side. Ang imo barrier indi na pagkuhaon kundi butangan sang X nga lubid para indi mapungkoan,” Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon, president of Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA), told Panay News.
Parcon said drivers and operators were given several days to install markings inside their jeepneys.
From Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, LTO and LTFRB will set out to the streets to remind PUJs of their compliance with the one-seat-apart rule.
But starting Oct. 6, the transport agencies will start apprehending violators.
“Kon madakpan ang isa ka driver nga nagabayolar, papanaugon ang pasahero nga nagpungko sa marking nga X kag hatagan sang penalidad ang driver,” explained Parcon.
He also said: “Ingkaso may barriers kag napungkoan sang pasahero, papanugon sang LTO and LTFRB ang pasahero kag may yara violation sa prangkisa ang driver.”
With jeepneys no longer allowed to have more than half of their regular capacity, Parcon said ICLAJODA intends to file a petition seeking to increase the minimum fare from to P15.
The current minimum fare is at P9 for the first five kilometers and an additional P1 for every succeeding kilometer.
“I-push gid namon ang P15 nga minimum fare kay mabuhinan ang amon pasahero. Ang makarga namon kada trip pito lang ka pasahero kay tag-tatlo lang kada side ang makaigu sa dyep plus sa driver seat,” said Parcon.
For his part, Edgar Salarda of the Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston Panay) described the one-seat-apart policy as an additional burden to jeepney drivers and operators.
“Masubo ini nga balita kay bangod mabuhinan na naman ang mga pasahero,” said Salarda.
While admitting that Piston Panay opted not to file a petition, Salarda hopes the LTFRB will approve the fare hike.
“Daku man ang posibilidad nga may nationwide fare hike hambal ni director,” he added.
It was in mid-March until June that most of public transportation was suspended due to lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To help the public transport sector recover, the Department of Transportation pushed to reduce physical distancing among passengers in public utility vehicles.
But the proposal was met with opposition from Health secretary Francisco Duque III, Interior secretary Eduardo Año, medical experts and various local chief executives.
On Sept. 19 President Rodrigo Duterte decided to retain one-meter physical distance rule in public transportation./PN
