UP jeepney drivers struggle to fare under public transport regulations in the ‘new normal’

Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman jeepney drivers still struggle to find their footing in the roads they once ruled as one of the primary modes of public transportation in the country.

As some areas in the country were placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in May 2020, public transportation were allowed to resume operations but traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) were the last among mass transport options to return to the roads in June 2020.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has laid out the guidelines for public transportation “under limited number and reduced capacity” for areas under GCQ to ensure social distancing per recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

As per Memorandum Circular No. 2020-017, operation of public transport is only allowed in routes approved by the DOTr. Passenger load should not exceed 50 percent of the vehicle’s capacity, and operators must secure a special permit before resuming operations.

Conditions of the granting of the special permit include strict implementation of “no face mask, no ride” and physical distancing policy, thermal scanning for all passengers before boarding the vehicle, marking the seats of the vehicle, and use of non-permeable material to seal off passengers from the driver.

All public utility vehicles must also be disinfected at every end of each trip and contact tracing must be strictly adhered to through forms or mobile applications.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had set a “hierarchy of transport service” that was observed in operational routes and traditional PUJs came at the end of the list.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra said in a virtual meeting of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development that the "hierarchy" prioritizes transport modes with higher passenger capacity to ensure minimum health standards are observed.

These regulations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic further burdened jeepney drivers such as the drivers from the UP Diliman routes whose livelihood have been badly stricken by the pandemic as they return to the roads.

No ‘byahe,’ no income

UP Transport Group (UPTG) Spokesperson Nolan Grulla said most of the UP jeepney drivers had no savings and when the lockdown was implemented, it did not take too long for them to feel the burden of not being able to work and earn daily.

“Kaming mga driver po ay hindi po nakapag-ipon[...]Kaya nung nawalan kami ng hanapbuhay, talagang wala kaming income dahil nga ang punto kasi ng mga driver: gastos ka lang kasi kinabukasan babyahe ka, may pera ka,” Grulla shared.

(Us, drivers were not able to save money [...] so, when we lost our jobs, we did not have any income because we used to think: we should spend our money today because tomorrow, we’ll earn it again— as long as you drive your jeep, you’ll have money)

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grulla drove for 12 roundtrips every day from SM North EDSA to UP Diliman.

He said his usual take home pay amounted to about P1000 to P1500 daily after driving his jeepney from 6 am to 8 pm before the pandemic. Now, he only takes home P150 to P200 daily after four roundtrips on a good day along with other jeepney drivers on UP Diliman routes.

“Yung ibang mga kasamahan ko ay hindi na sila lumalabas dahil nga kung 50 [percent] capacity eh sa taas ng krudo tas magbaboundary ka pa... Minsan nga ay hindi pa sumasapat para sa boundary,” said the UPTG spokesperson.

(Some of my co-drivers no longer drive their jeeps because with the 50% imposed capacity, since we also pay for our diesel, boundary [...] Sometimes, the earnings for the day is not even enough to cover the boundary)

Fewer commuters, missing government aid

With the absence of physical classes, UP jeepney drivers and operators also have to deal with the impact of having fewer commuters.

Outside the campus, traditional jeepney drivers also have to compete for commuters with free bus rides and UV rides offered by the Quezon City local government unit (LGU) and LTFRB.

“Nagbigay [sila] ng free ride sa may CP Garcia na nasasagasaan yung mga byahe namin tapos sa may likod ng UP, sa may Katipunan, nagbigay naman ang LTFRB ng linyang nasasagasaan ang linya namin...Walang wala kaming pasahero,” said Grulla.

(They give free rides in CP Garcia which is under our route and in Katipunan, LTFRB also gave free rides [...] So, we really have no passengers left)

Traditional PUJ drivers and operators also had to shoulder maintenance and other costs before resuming their operations which proved to be another burden.

Grulla said among the 300 UP jeepney drivers, only three received the P8,000 ‘ayuda’ from DOTr and they had to rely on one another and donation drives to make ends meet during the lockdown.

“Mag iisang taon na nakatengga yung jeep mo...Syempre po aayusin mo yan kasi baka madisgrasya ka pa. Tapos yung sinasabi pa nila na health protocol na maglalagay ka ng dividing na hindi naman binigay ng gobyerno—sa bulsa mo rin kukunin,” he said.

(Your jeep was not used for a year [...] Definitely, you have to fix it to avoid accidents. Then, about the health protocol where we are supposed to put dividings--that weren’t provided by the government, it’s something we have to fund ourselves)

There are five jeepney routes from and to the UP Diliman campus: UP Ikot, Katipunan, SM North, Pantranco, and Philcoa. The number of jeepney units currently operating in these routes significantly decreased from about 300 units pre-pandemic to 35 units.

Threat of jeepney phase-out

Among the reasons why many UP jeepney drivers and operators chose not to tune-up their vehicles and register to resume operations was the threat of the jeepney phase-out.

“Kaya talaga po ang mga operator ay talagang hindi halos lahat nakapagpagawa ng jeep dahil po sa tangka ng phase-out,” said Grulla.

(That is why all operators cannot decide if they will maintain their jeepneys because of the threat of jeepney phaseout)

The administration is using regulations and programs like the Service Contracting Program during the pandemic to pave the way for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) said Mody Floranda, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) President.

As per DOTr’s Department Order No. 2018-016, the PUVMP “envisions restructured, modern, well-managed, and environmentally sustainable transport sector where drivers and operators have stable, sufficient, and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely, and comfortably.”

It involves replacing old units of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) nationwide and about 179,000 PUJs are to be covered by this program.

Members of PISTON and the Balik Pasada Network hold a mobilization in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office at Quezon City, June 21.

Photo from Fivy Boy Escosar’s Facebook account.

The PISTON President said they are not against the modernization program for public transportation but the way the government implements it that the ordinary jeepney drivers and operators can’t afford.

“Pano namin babayaran yung class A [modern jeepney unit] nagkakahalaga ng 2.4 million? [...] Saan kukunin ng maliliit na operator yung ganung kalaking halaga?” he added.

(How will we be able to pay for the class A modern jeep unit that costs around 2.4 million? [...] Where will small operators get that huge amount of money?)

As of April 2021, almost 40,000 traditional PUJ units have returned to their original, pre-pandemic routes. This amounts to 80 percent of the 55,000 PUJs in Metro Manila.

“Hanggang ngayon lumalaban kami. Ilang taon na lang naman po 2022 na, magkakaalaman na. Sana yung mananalo [sa eleksyon] ay mabigyan naman ng pansin ang transport [groups],” said Grulla.

(Until now, we are fighting. 2022 is almost here. Hopefully those who will win [in the elections] will keep transportation [groups] in mind)