Poe urges govt to hire compliant jeepneys amid PUV shortage

Senator Grace Poe urged the government to hire compliant traditional jeepneys to augment the number of public utility vehicles (PUVs) available during the general community quarantine (GCQ).

She stated that the limited capacity of PUVs due to physical distancing measures, coupled with the insufficient number of operating units, has led to significant commuter struggles.

Poe highlighted that only about 20,000 passengers can be accommodated daily with current bus operations, a drastic reduction from the pre-lockdown capacity of 250,000.

She proposed allocating funds to hire additional shuttles and ensure that jeepneys complying with health protocols are utilized.

Furthermore, Poe advocated for subsidies for PUV drivers to help them comply with social distancing without compromising financial viability.

She also called for the restructuring of loans and provision of credit lines for transport service providers.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade maintained that the resumption of mass transportation must be gradual, partial, and calculated, stating that the government did not promise to serve all commuters.