PH loses P21-B monthly due to suspension of transport ops: solon

FILE: After several months of rehabilitation, the Marcos Bridge along Marcos Highway in Marikina City reopened to motorists on Thursday (Oct. 31, 2019). The PHP213.46-million project included the strengthening of girders and replacement of expansion joints, concrete sidewalks, railing and drain pipes. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday said the country has incurred losses of up to PHP21.3 billion per month due to the suspension of public transportation operations during the quarantine period.

During a virtual House joint panel meeting on the “Economic Aspect of Public Transport Issues”, AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Sharon Garin said the projected economic losses were only applicable for the land transportation sector.

“In terms of public transportation, the estimated loss on a monthly basis is PHP21.3 billion. That’s high impact, that’s just land transportation. This is something that while our operators, our drivers are suffering losses, at the same time, it trickles down to losses of workers because they cannot go to work, and if the workers cannot go to work, the businesses cannot operate,” Garin said.

Garin said that even if quarantine rules are eased, people are still afraid to go out because the public transportation problem becomes a constraint and there is “no sense of security” outside their homes.

“Even if you open up 100 percent, the manufacturing, restaurants, or other businesses, if jeepneys are not allowed to operate then many of the workers in NCR (National Capital Region) will still not be able to go to work,” she said. “Transportation is integrated and interconnected with all the businesses that we have. If there is no transportation our [produce] will not go to the market and will not go to the people. We have to take note of these [problems].”

For his part, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said they have adopted a partial, gradual, and calculated approach in providing mobility to commuters to secure their safety amid the public health threat.

Tugade said there are phases being implemented for allowing the operation of the different modes of public transportation.