More than a year after the Philippine government first imposed strict lockdown to “contain” COVID-19 transmission, more and more jeepney drivers still plea for financial aid as most of them have yet to recover from the hunger and poverty brought by the government’s COVID-19 response. By REIN TARINAY Bulatlat.com MANILA — His jeepney and a…
“Public transport must not fall under big private businesses because it will only be a milking cow for them.”
“Whatever twaddle they claim, the current jeepney operators will not be able to survive the fleet management and consolidation ordered in the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines.”
The apprehensions and the stiff fines have prompted operators to temporarily sideline their jeepneys, resulting in reduced number of jeepneys plying the streets thereby creating more difficulties for commuters.
Is jeepney “modernization” the answer to the Philippines’ land transportation woes? Or does the solution lie elsewhere? Will that scheme put in place a safe, rational and reliable transportation system all over the country, or in the National Capital Region at least? Or does developing a system of efficiently and safely moving people from place…
“The police wanted to make a statement and terrorize the people especially those critical of government programs such as the bogus jeepney modernization.”
From the transport groups’ gathering in Welcome Rotonda up to the area near UST and on to Morayta going to Mendiola Bridge (Chino Roces), the protesters were repeatedly confronted by policemen, Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Metro Manila Development Authority personnel.
“We welcome and appreciate the effort of Sen. Grace Poe. That’s what we want to hear from the government.”
The selling price of the new jeepneys the government wanted the operators to purchase ranged from P1.5 million to P1.6 million ($27,840 to $31.82). Under a seven-year loan package with interest, the final price would be more than P2 million each, making the government-vetted jeepney as costly as a sports utility vehicle.
By RENAN ORTIZ
By DEE AYROSO