Irate jeepney drivers and operators yesterday pleaded to the government to allow them to resume operations as their families are going hungry.
One of them, jeepney driver Jesse Pineda, who used to drive the Monumento (Caloocan City)-Malolos City (Bulacan) before the lockdown was implemented last March, said the insufficient and slow delivery of food and non-food aid have driven his family to total frustration.
Even with the new normal, Pineda moaned of being unsure of the future health condition of his three daughters who have been forced to eat sardines and instant noodles for almost 50 days.
“Ang hirap sa gobyerno di makabigay ng sapat na ayuda para sa pagkain at iba naming pangangailangan. Hindi kami humihingi ng labis kung gusto nilang sa bahay lang kami pero dapat bigay nila sa amin ‘yung normal naming pangangailangan. Walang labis at walang kulang,’’ Pineda complained.
He said the government is unfair and complained of its harsh enforcement of quarantine protocols and ineptness to provide sufficient public aid.
“Parang nangangaya sila. Di naman sapat ayuda nila. Hindi patas ‘yung ganun ,’’ he added.
Almost in tears, Pineda said that jeepney drivers like him should be allowed to operate, citing the lockdown is slowly putting his family to near death.
Pineda admitted that it is impossible for jeepney drivers to follow the social distancing guidelines.
“Kung ayaw nila kaming pumasada bigyan nila kami ng P500 kada araw na pinakamababang kita ng driver,’’ Pineda said. (Chito A. Chavez)
