THE transport group is seeking the assistance of the Blue Ribbon Committee of the House of Representatives in connection with the alleged removal of passenger jeepneys from their regular routes.
Orlando Marquez, national president of the Liga ng Transportation sa Pilipinas (LTOP), said their group and other drivers and operators were surprised after learning that mini-buses are now plying on their regular routes and that jeepneys have been displaced.
“Literally nawala na ang mga traditional jeepneys sa aming regular routes,” said Marquez.
Marquez reiterated that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should reimplement the original Memorandum Order (MO) of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
“Malinaw po dun sa MO ni Sec. Tugade, na nagtatakda na dapat ay may consultation muna bago muling pa alipin sa mga regular routes ang mga jeepney operators di tulad nito nagulat talaga kami mga mini buses na ang bumibiyahe,” said Marquez.
The same MO clearly states that regular drivers and operators at the routes have priority provided they are compliant with the Road Rationalization and Consolidation Program, said Marquez.
“Iba ang nangyayari,” said Marquez.
Marquez expressed hope the Blue Ribbon Committee would assist the thousand displaced jeepney operators and drivers.
***
NABAHALA ang commuter group sa bagong policy na Department of Transportation (DOTr) na paikliin ang sukat ng social distancing mula 1 meter gawing .75 na ito bawat pasahero.
Ayon kay Atty. Ariel Inton, founder ng Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP).na kung ang layunin ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) ay para madagdagan ang bilang ng mga pasahero sa mga public vehicle ay tila inilalapit na rin ang publiko sa peligro ng deadly virus Covid-19.
“May solid medical basis ba, na kapag ang social distance ay kinompromise ay ano ang magiging epekto?” tanong ni Inton.
Paliwanag ni Inton, kung layunin ng bagong policy ng DOTr ay para madagdagan ang mga commuters tuwing rush hour dapat maglatag ito ng alternatibong safety health protocols sa public transport system, tulad ng ibang mga bansa para sa safety ng mga commuters.
Nagmungkahi din ang LCSP na dagdagan na lamang ang public utility vehicles na pumapasada upang masiguro na makasasakay ang commuters sa rush hours.
Naniniwala si Inton na mahirap din sa mga operator at mga drayber na pumasada kung malulugi lamang din sila dahil sa umiiral na “reduced capacity,” saad ni Inton.
