Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. yesterday that the modern jeepneys look like an “inflated condom.” These would replace the traditional and “iconic” Filipino jeep.
“Keep the old jeepneys. Did you see the new one? It looks like an inflated condom,” Locsin said.
The traditional jeepney, he said, is iconic, and “it shows what Filipinos can do with next to nothing after a world war.”
“Get only Sarao to build the same jeepneys, retaining the traditional look, just improve the engine,” he added.
Locsin added that traditional jeepneys are evidence of Filipinos’ resourcefulness.
“Absolutely. I won’t have MY people going around in an inflated condom. Did you see the new model? Puti at malaput looking. My people deserve better,” he tweeted.
Palace was positive that commuters’ suffering would be over yesterday after it allowed the resumption of operations of buses and modern jeepneys.
Also read: QC jeepneys transform into delivery service vehicles
Modern jeepneys hit the road
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) opened 15 routes in Metro Manila for compliant modern jeepneys yesterday.
The agency aimed to gradually reopen public transportation in the National Capital Region, which is still under the general community quarantine (GCQ).
On Sunday, June 21, the LTFRB said it had allowed a total of 308 modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs) compliant with its Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) to ply the following 15 routes in Metro Manila starting Monday:
- Novaliches – Malinta via Paso de Blas
- Bagumbayan Taguig – Pasig via San Joaquin
- Fort Bonifacio Gate 3 – Guadalupe-Market Market-ABC Loop Service
- Pandacan – Leon Guinto
- Quezon Avenue – LRT 5th Avenue Station
- Cubao (Diamond) – Roces Super Palengke
- EDSA Buendia – Mandaluyong City Hall via Jupiter, Rockwell
- Divisoria – Gasak via H Lopez
- Punta – Quiapo via Sta Ana
- Boni Pinatubo – Stop and Shop, vice versa
- Boni Robinson’s Complex – Kalentong/JRC vice versa
- Nichols – Vito Cruz
- Filinvest City Loop
- Alabang Town Center (ATC) – Ayala Alabang Village
- Vito Cruz Taft Avenue – PITX Loop Service
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) meanwhile remained firm that the old jeepney phase-out would continue this year despite the COVID-19 crisis.
Jeepney operators were given three years to comply with the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, Alberto Suansing, the senior consultant for DOTr earlier said.