Gov’t eyes another round of cash aid for PUJ drivers

FILE: After several months of rehabilitation, the Marcos Bridge along Marcos Highway in Marikina City reopened to motorists on Thursday (Oct. 31, 2019). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The government is studying the possibility of giving another round of cash aid to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers affected by the community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Pinag-aaralan na po na bigyan ng pangatlong buwang ayuda ang mga jeepney drivers na nawalan ng hanapbuhay po dahil hindi pa po pinapayagan na bumiyahe ang ating mga jeepney (The government is studying the third tranche of cash aid for jeepney drivers who lost their livelihood because they are not permitted to travel yet),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual presser from Davao City.

Roque said the cash aid will still come from the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or Republic Act 11469.

Under Bayanihan Law, some 18 million low-income families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic will be given cash aid of PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 for the months of April and May.

Aside from cash assistance, PUJ drivers also receive a fuel subsidy which covers 30 percent of their daily fuel consumption for three months.

PUJs are still not allowed to transport passengers under more relaxed community quarantine protocols.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is also pushing for an economic stimulus package that would see a portion going to fuel subsidy, mitigating drivers’ lost income, and augmenting their operations.

From June 1 to 21, trains and bus augmentation services, taxis, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), shuttle services, point-to-point buses, as well as bicycles are allowed to operate in limited passenger capacity.

Tricycles will be allowed to operate in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) with approval from concerned local government units. Provincial buses will remain banned from entering Metro Manila.

Public utility buses, modern PUJs, and UV Express units will be permitted to operate with limited passenger capacity from June 22 to 30.

Malacañang on Wednesday said the government is considering giving an alternative livelihood to PUJ drivers affected by the community quarantine.

Earlier, Roque said there is a proposal to employ PUJ drivers as contact tracers to enhance local government units’ efforts to identify those who have come in contact with Covid-19-infected persons.

“We’re actually considering alternative livelihoods for them. There’s a suggestion that they be employed as contact tracers,” he said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart on Wednesday.

Roque said the government is looking to hire around 120,000 contact tracers nationwide to augment the existing over 30,000 contact tracers.

Additional bus routes

Meanwhile, Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte has also ordered the DOTr to add city bus routes to ferry passengers in Metro Manila starting Friday.

“Ramdam din po ng Presidente ang hirap ni Juan Dela Cruz sa pagko-commute. Nagbigay ng derektiba ang Presidente na dagdagan pa ang ruta ng mga bus na bumibiyahe sa Metro Manila simula po bukas, araw ng Biyernes (The President understands the struggle of Juan Dela Cruz when it comes to commuting. He gave a directive to add bus routes traveling to Metro Manila starting Friday),” he said.

Citing the DOTr, Roque said additional routes will be open in the coming days.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will also be meeting with concerned bus operators to identify the number of buses that will be allowed to resume operations, he added.

The three bus routes which will open on Friday are from Monumento to Balagtas, Bulacan, Edsa to Montalban in Rizal and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Loop.

Starting Monday, the bus routes that will operate are from Monumento to Valenzuela Gateway Complex, Gilmore to Taytay, and Monumento to San Jose Del Monte.