Jeepney operators cool to LTFRB’S new 20 routes
NOT PROFITABLE UNDER GCQ RESTRICTIONS
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Region 1 announced on May 20 revised and identified routes for public transportation during the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in Pangasinan for limited number of jeepneys and public utility buses.
The LTFRB said jeepney and bus operators will issue special permits to ply these routes on a first come-first served basis by sending applications online to r1@ltfrb.gov.ph.
The revised PUJ/PUB routes in Pangasinan are the Dagupan-Bonuan Binloc up to San Fabian boundary, 5 units; Dagupan Downtown CSI Lucao, 5; Dagupan Downtown Loop, 5; Dagupan-Mangin, 5; Dagupan-Calasiao, 5; Dagupan-Lingayen, 10; Dagupan-Malasiqui, 5; Dagupan-San Fabian, 10; Dagupan-Urbiztondo, 8; Dagupan–Urdaneta, 10; Dagupan-Sta. Barbara, 5;
Lingayen-Mangatarem, 3; Sison-Rosales, 15; Bani-Agno-Burgos, 3; Alaminos-Infanta, 4; Lingayen-Mangatarem, 3; Sison-Rosales, 15; Urdaneta-Natividad, 5; Alaminos-Bolinao, 5; Dagupan-Alaminos, 4; and Dagupan-Rosales (via Bayambang), 5.
The four new routes in Dagupan City will only allocate 20 jeepney units or five jeepney units for each route.
However, jeepney drivers and operators are reportedly reluctant to apply for the special permits because they find operating it would not be profitable with 50% occupancy only.
Bernardo Tuliao, president of the Alliance of United Transport Organizations (AUTOPRO), suggested that jeepneys in these routes and in other routes be allowed to ply on rotation basis daily to give all others a chance to earn for their families in this period of emergency.
Under the emergency situation, LTFRB restricts jeepneys and buses to load not beyond half of their usual capacity in observance of the social distancing protocol which drivers and operators find unprofitable under the existing fare matrix.
Jeepney drivers and operators met LTFRB officials in Dagupan on May 20 and submitted their request for a fare increase to cover the limited occupancy.
LTFRB Regional Director Nasrudin Talipasan said his office will study this and make a final decision in due time. (Leonardo Micua/Butch Uka)
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