Commuters, operators continue to suffer

By July 5, 2020Headlines, News

ONLY 334 JEEPNEYS ALLOWED TO OPERATE

THERE are only 334 Public Utility Jeeps plying routes in Pangasinan during the Modified General Community Quarantine, out of the 3,525 units that were issued their franchises before the pandemic.

Bernard Tuliao, president of the Alliance of United Transport Organizations Provincewide (AUTOPRO), said not only is the number very inadequate to serve the needs of the riding public in and around the 48 towns/cities in Pangasinan but the drivers and their families continue to suffer the most because of the new and stringent policies of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regional office.

In sharp contrast, Tuliao said jeepney operators with prior franchises in Metro Manila, all the jeepneys are being allowed to operate without need for approval from LTFRB even if Metro Manila is under the General Community Quarantine.

For this reason, AUTOPRO is set to meet Governor Amado Espino III next week to seek his help in persuading LTFRB to allow all franchised jeepneys that are deemed road worthy to ply their routes with the commitment to observe safety regulations and health protocol.

He said LTFRB in Region 1 is far stricter than its head office in Manila to the detriment of the riding public.

Tuliao said the jeepney drivers and operators don’t need to seek financial assistance from government if they are allowed to operate and use their franchises. He said not a single jeepney driver and operator received financial assistance from DSWD.

He laments that the LTFRB has changed the rules without any public hearing, i.e, issuing special permits for new routes, requiring new applications and membership in existing cooperatives, which many operators cannot comply with immediately.

There are only a few cooperative members today and these are drivers and operators of jeepneys in Lingayen, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Manaoag and Bonuan Gueset.

He cited his situation as an example who has a pending application for a cooperative entity with the Cooperative Development Authority but whose approval was delayed because of the lockdown.

He said that to date, there are only 10 jeepneys plying the whole Bonuan area: five plying the Bolosan, Tebeng and Tambac route, and another five along CSI Lucao route, five along the downtown loop, and 20 along the Calasiao-Dagupan route.,

AUTOPRO has 26 member associations throughout Pangasinan. (Leonardo Micua)      

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