The “King of the Road” turns rosy for a special group of riders. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines–If there are separate train coaches for women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities (PWDs), there are now special public utility jeepneys (PUJs) for them as well. An initiative of the Guadalupe-Pateros Jeepney Operators’ Association, the so-called “Pink Jeepneys” rolled out Saturday on the Guadalupe-Pateros route. At least 14 units were deployed on Valentine’s Day as exclusive rides for women, children, elders and PWDs, plying the route from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m to 7 p.m. In a statement over the weekend, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chair Winston Ginez lauded the initiative, calling it “a noble program that we hope will serve as a model for other PUJ operators to replicate in their respective routes to better serve those sectors that are having difficulty commuting.” Jaymee T. Gamil