MANILA, Philippines — Starting Wednesday, Aug. 26, an additional 1,333 passenger jeepneys will return to the streets as part of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) commitment to open more routes to make commuting easier in Metro Manila under general community quarantine (GCQ).
Once Memorandum Circular No. 2020-40 takes effect, the total number of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) plying Metro routes will be over 13,000, while the number of operating public utility vehicles (PUVs) should total 64,512.
This was significantly higher than the more than 54,000 PUVs allowed back on the roads when the ban on public transport was lifted on June 1 after the National Capital Region transitioned to GCQ for the first time.
Earlier, the LTFRB told the House committee on Metro Manila development that with the capital under GCQ, it would be adding more routes and PUVs weekly to meet a growing demand for more public transport options.
Available routes
The 1,333 jeepneys would ply the 23 routes opened by the LTFRB last week in Quezon City, Manila, Caloocan, Valenzuela and Parañaque. These included Napocor Village/NIA Ville-SM North Edsa; Napocor/NIA Ville-Mindanao Avenue Congressional; Bagbaguin-Malinta; Katipunan-Marcos Avenue/University Avenue via UP; Libertad-PRC; Santol-Pina Avenue via Buenos Aires; Blumentritt-Divisoria; Blumentritt-Libertad via Sta. Cruz, L. Guinto; and Libertad-Retiro via Mabini, Sta. Cruz, L Guinto.
The rest of the routes were España-Rizal Avenue via Blumentritt; Blumentritt-Retiro; Arroceros-Blumentritt via Dimasalang; Ayala-P. Burgos/J.P. Rizal; Baclaran-Blumentritt via Mabini, Sta. Cruz; Baclaran-Blumentritt via Quiapo/Mabini; Dapitan-Pier South; Divisoria – Libertad via L. Guinto; Divisoria-Libertad via Mabini; Divisoria-T.M. Kalaw via Jones Bridge; España-Project 2&3 via Timog Avenue; Project 4-T.M. Kalaw via Cubao, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue; Pier South-Retiro via Sta. Cruz; and Multinational Village-Gate along Imelda Avenue.
Like those who were first allowed to operate, PUV drivers and operators should observe the minimum health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, including the wearing of face masks and face shields and the observance of social distancing.
While they may ply their routes without a special permit, they must first download and print the special quick response (QR) codes — a matrix, machine-readable bar code — that should be displayed on their vehicles. Meanwhile, jeepney drivers and operators still barred from the streets urged the government to fast-track the release of financial aid for them.
Before the pandemic forced a lockdown in Metro Manila, there were 55,000 jeepneys plying different routes.
Based on the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s last report, the government has disbursed over P857.3 million in assistance to jeepney and transport network vehicle service drivers.