Ping wants jeepney included in Libreng Sakay program
PARTIDO Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has called for the inclusion of traditional jeepneys into the ‘Libreng Sakay’ (free ride) program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for essential workers amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
Lacson broached the idea during his consultation meeting with members of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) Calabarzon chapter in Lipa City, Batangas.
According to the transport leaders Lacson had spoken to, the state-funded free transportation services affected the income of some traditional jeepney drivers since more passengers decided to take only public buses and modern jeepneys that are included in the program.
“‘Yung libreng sakay ng bus, na sabi niyo nga lalong nagpapahirap sa jeepney kasi walang sasakay [dahil] sa libreng sakay, bakit hindi gamitin ‘yung libreng sakay sa jeepney na i-su-subsidize ng gobyerno?” Lacson said in his speech.
Lacson said incorporating traditional jeepneys into the ‘Libreng Sakay’ program is possible since they have allocated a P5.58-billion budget to aid low-income families, including public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or the Bayanihan II.
The presidential aspirant mentioned that he and his running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III have been closely monitoring the implementation of Bayanihan II to prevent cases of unequal distribution of assistance again, especially among the PUV drivers.
Lacson, meanwhile, also told the FEJODAP members that he would revisit their concerns over the jeepney modernization plans of the government as many traditional jeepney drivers and operators remain unprepared for its full implementation.
The incumbent senator said this issue has already been brought to his attention by former FEJODAP national president Zenaida Maranan before she passed away last year, which actually led to some lawmakers questioning the viability of the program as well.
“Natingnan namin talagang hindi viable. Hindi uubra kasi hindi preparado. Dapat bago ka gagawa ng pagpapalit, dapat meron kang paghahanda. Ihahanda mo muna ‘yung mga tao sa ground kung kakayanin ba nila… Mukhang hindi nagawa ‘yon,” Lacson said of the program.
“So, ito, talagang tinutulan namin. Pero unti-unti, ‘di ba, pinapatupad nila pero hindi talaga nila maipatupad completely o fully kasi ang daming problema. Ang daming isyu na hindi na-resolve,” he added.
