Poe: More jeepneys should be allowed on roads with shortened curfew

FILE- Plastic dividers are placed inside a jeepney to maintain physical distancing as part of the new normal in commuting in a few jeepneys authorized by the LTFRB to service specific routes. (Photos were taken inside a public utility jeepney plying the Downtown route in Dagupan City)\ PHOTO BY WILLIE LOMIBAO

MANILA, Philippines — More jeepneys should be allowed to operate if the government would be easing quarantine restrictions such as the shortening of curfew hours, Senator Grace Poe said Thursday.

In a statement, Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, warned that relaxing curfew hours and quarantine restrictions will result in more people getting out of their homes and possibly catching the coronavirus if the number of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in operation will not be increased.

She asked if the current public transport system is capable of handling a surge in the number of commuters and if there are enough PUVs to ferry passengers.

“Without the complementary boost in the number of jeepneys and other PUVs, commuters will suffer and face the risk of infection due to crowding in terminals and public vehicles,” Poe said.

“More jeepneys should be allowed to return on the road, adhering to health protocols,” she added.

Poe posed this suggestion after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that to help boost the reopening of the country’s economy, Cabinet members had proposed that the curfew be set between midnight and 4 a.m., instead of the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. period being implemented by many local government units.

However, Roque said this is just a recommendation as local government units will still be the ones to enforce curfew hours in their respective jurisdictions through the issuance of ordinances.

/MUF