Traditional jeepneys and UV Express are expected to resume operations in Metro Manila this month, said Department of Transportation (DOTr) senior consultant Alberto Suansing on Monday.
“Ang target namin diyan before the end of the month mag-umpisa na rin sila magpasada,” Suansing said during an interview over CNN Philippines.
In the meantime, Suansing said guidelines are being laid out before traditional jeepneys and UV Express operations return.
“At this point in time LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) is finishing the guidelines actually as far as the operations of UV Express and jeepneys are concerned,” he said.
Jeepney operations in Metro Manila has stopped since the government suspended public transportation in Luzon on March 17.
A number of jeepney organizations have already complained and even protested to the government for the continuing suspension of jeepney operations.
The government has already allowed the return of buses after Metro Manila was placed under general community quarantine at the start of the month.
This was followed by the operations of modern jeepneys which began this Monday.
308 MODERN JEEPNEYS
Saunsing said there are 308 modern jeepneys which have been allowed to operate in all 15 routes in Metro Manila but can only fill up their seats at 50 percent capacity.
“Itong mga routes na ito, they take care the last mile,” he said.
Now that modern jeepneys have been allowed, Suansing has urged operators to employ cashless payment of fares.
“We highly recommend that it should be cashless transaction to lessen the probability of transmission of COVID,” he said.
Suansing noted that some modern jeepneys and even buses have been using automatic fare collection system (AFCS).
“Dual kasi ang purpose noon. It does not only collect the fare but at the same time collect information that that is needed for contact tracing,” he said. (Jeffrey Damicog)
