Some jeepney drivers may be able to return to the roads again weeks after Metro Manila shifts to general community quarantine by June 1, the Department of Transportation announced.
According to DOTr Senior Transport Consultant Bert Suansing, the resumption of mass transport in the National Capital Region will roll out in two phases: From June 1 to 21, rails and trains will resume partial operations with additional bus augmentation. The second phase is on June 22 onwards.
Modern jeeps will be allowed starting June 22. In addition, during the second phase, some traditional jeepneys will be allowed to operate in areas that can’t be served by buses and modern jeepneys.
“What we see, the buses and modern jeepneys are not enough to serve a route, so what we are doing is also allot some units of traditional jeepneys to run on those routes,” he said in a phone interview with New Day.
In the second phase, public buses and UV Express vans will also be permitted to operate, but with limited passenger capacity.
Aside from this, shuttles of private companies, transport network vehicle services such as GrabCar, taxis, tricycles, and point-to-point buses will be allowed to go back on the roads.
Meanwhile, tricycles will also be allowed subject to the prior approval of local government units.
President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Metro Manila will transition from modified enhanced community to general community quarantine on June 1. Under GCQ, public transportation are allowed to resume operations under limited capacity.
