Beginning today, Jan. 30, city buses in Metro Manila will be allowed to take jeepney routes to accommodate commuters affected by the lack of jeepneys in the metropolis owing to the government’s campaign against dilapidated public utility vehicles.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is giving special permits to bus operators to traverse the jeepney routes initially for three months.
Lawyer Aileen Lizada, spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic, said the agency is in close coordination with the Metro Manila Development Authority and local government officials about the plan.
“For your information on Tuesday, buses with special trip signs will temporarily take PUJ routes,” said Lizada.
Among the areas identified by the MMDA where passengers get stranded because of unavailable jeepneys include Quiapo in Manila; Commonwealth and Novaliches in Quezon City; Masinag in Antipolo City; Baclaran in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque; and Guadalupe in Makati City.
But I-ACT clarified that the deployment of 20 city buses will depend on the areas where they are most needed.
MMDA officials said because of I-ACT’s campaign against unroadworthy vehicles, jeepney drivers got scared of getting caught or having their vehicles impounded and penalized.
I-ACT Task Force Alamid, made up of men from the MMDA, LTFRB, Police Highway Patrol Group and local government traffic personnel, have so far apprehended more than 1,000 vehicles since the campaign started on Jan. 8.
Fare for ordinary buses will be P10, while fare for air-conditioned buses will be P12.
The buses will be deployed during peak hours, from 5 to 9 in the morning and from 4 to 7 in the evening.
But jeepney drivers and operators believe the government’s move allowing city buses to take their routes signals the beginning of their phasing out of PUJs.
“It’s very clear elimination effort. It’s very clear PUJs are getting all the way out on the road,” Stop and Go Coalition President Jun Magno said.
MMDA general manager and I-ACT chief Thomas Orbos explained the government’s program was aimed at modernizing the fleet of jeepneys, not phasing them out.
“It is all about the commuters. We need to finally give respect to our commuters and provide public transport that dignifies the riding public by giving them safe, convenient and efficient public transport,” Orbos said.
The transport groups recently staged strikes and demanded the junking of the I-ACT program, saying the move would “massacre” the livelihood of over 600,000 PUJ drivers and operators.
Under the program, the government will impose a 15-year age limit on PUJs, as it aims to modernize the fleet of jeepneys plying the roads through low-carbon and low-emission vehicle technology.
Standards on carbon emission and fleet management and maintenance would also be imposed to ensure passenger safety, and improve ambient air quality.
To address operators’ and drivers’ concern of undue economic burden from having to purchase brand new jeepney units, the government would allow them to apply for loans with the Development Bank of the Philippines.
The government would set up a guarantee fund to secure the loans of the operators and drivers.