Palace denies using COVID-19 crisis to phase out jeeps

Malacaŋang denied on Thursday that the government is using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to phase out traditional jeepneys.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the jeepney modernization program, which aims to replace aging vehicles, has nothing to do with the current crisis and was initiated in 2016.

Some jeepney drivers are considering setting their units on fire in protest against the continuous ban during the pandemic, as the government continues to deploy buses and modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) on routes previously served by traditional jeepneys.