Press Release
October 2, 2020

Nancy hits LTFRB for not knowing no. of jeepneys affected by route rationalization

Senator Nancy Binay hit the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for not knowing how many jeepney drivers and operators would be affected by the rationalization of public transport routes.

"Unacceptable na hindi ninyo alam kung ilan sa mga jeepney drivers ang hindi na makakabalik," Binay told LTFRB chief Martin Delgra during the Senate deliberation on the Department of Transportation's 2021 budget.

"Hindi po ba dapat, Atty. Delgra, alam n'yo kung ilan ang mga kasamahan natin, ilang jeepney drivers na kababayan natin ang hindi na talaga makakabalik at makakapasada?" she also said.

Delgra said that 21,880 units of around 50,000 traditional jeepneys in Metro Manila have already been allowed to run since the easing of restrictions, along with 900-plus modern jeepneys.

The senator also criticized the snail's pace by which the LTFRB is conducting its business, considering that the route rationalization started in 2017 alongside the jeepney modernization program.

"Paano po natin ngayon ipa-pursue ang modernization program kung hindi pa tapos itong route rationalization?" Binay asked.

She said that because of the LTFRB's failure to come up with the rationalization plan, jeepney drivers have been facing uncertainty.

"Bakit hanggang ngayon ang traditional jeepneys natin hindi pa nakakalabas? It's been almost 7 months, kawawa naman ang mga jeepney drivers natin. Iyong iba sa kanila nanlilimos na," said Binay.

Binay said that the data was needed in order for the Senate to be able to craft legislation that would help those affected by the rationalization, along with other Filipinos who have been displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lawmaker also asked the transport agency about its plans for bus conductors who would potentially lose their jobs as Beep cards are more widely adopted.

According to the DOTR, buses that ply the roads will still employ conductors despite the use of Beep cards.

The agency added that based on dialogues with bus operators, conductors who will be dislodged will still be given jobs in the administrative side of their operations.

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