Driver keeps hopes up gov’t will allow traditional jeepneys back on the road

Jeepney driver Jude Recio is hoping that traditional jeepneys will be soon allowed to operate again as the government moves to relax public transportation restrictions and modernized jeepneys returning to roads Monday, June 22. Photo by Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — It was hard for the likes of Jude Recio to make ends meet, especially during the two-month enhanced community quarantine that deprived jeepney drivers like him to operate in order to arrest the spread of the coronavirus disease.

But Recio has not lost hope that the government would recognize their plight, and now that the lockdown has been eased, would eventually allow traditional jeepneys to ply their routes again.

Unlike traditional jeepneys like what Recio is using, modernized jeepneys have been allowed to operate Monday on what the Department of Transportation (DOTr) called the second phase of public transport revival.

“Naniniwala po kami. Naniniwala kami, dahil hindi nila isasantabi o ipapawalang bahala kami (We still believe. We believe that they will not set us aside nor ignore us),” said Recio, spokesman of Tandang Sora drivers and operators association, told INQUIRER.net videographer Noy Morcoso.

“Dahil sumusunod naman kami kung anong gusto nila, kung anong gagawin namin, kung paanong mga panuntunan. Naniniwala kami, umaasa kami na bibigyan kami ng pagkakataon ulit. May pamilya kami e, alam naman siguro nila yun,” he added.

(We follow what they want, what we should do, whatever the protocols. We believe and we expect that we will be given another chance. We have families, I think they know that.)

Modernized jeepneys were allowed to resume operations over their older counterparts since the latter were believed to pose risk of coronavirus transmission.

Recio said drivers of traditional jeepneys are willing to comply with any safety protocols the government will impose just so they could return to their livelihoods.

“Susunod kami sa protocol na sinasabi na unang una, social distancing hanggang sa sasakyan. Lalagyan namin ng plastik yan, kung ano iimplement nila, susundin namin, pproduce namin sa abot ng aming makakaya kahit salat kami ngayon,” he said.

(We will follow all protocols, the social distance inside the vehicle. We will install plastic, whatever they will implement, we will follow, we will produce it to the best of our ability even if we are tight in budget now.)

The temporary ban on traditional jeepneys urged some drivers to hold protests, saying they have been deprived of their livelihoods for months due to lockdown measures.

Malacañang earlier said the government is eyeing to employ traditional jeepney drivers who are barred to ply on the road in delivery services.

Some efforts were already made to give livelihoods to these drivers, with the Quezon City government and delivery service app Lalamove partnering to employ them in delivering goods within the city.

But Recio said he does not have a “high tech” phone to join the project.

“Ito ang tanging alam namin. Dito namin pinagaral, binuhay ang pamilya namin, sa pamamasada ng jeep. Nandito yung nakukuha naming pera para sa aming mga pamilya,” he said.

(This is the only thing we know. We were able to send our kids to school and feed our families through our driving. This is how we earn money for our families.)

As the government moves to further relax restrictions on public transportation, Malacañang said traditional jeepneys may soon be allowed to ply on their routes still subject to their roadworthiness.

EDV