Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said if the government wants to jumpstart the economy, they should allow the return of jeepneys and other public utility vehicles (PUVs).
He added that the lack of public transportation could contribute to the increasing number of jobless Filipinos that would further sink the economy.
“You want to restart the economy? Then let PUVs restart their engines,” Recto said in a statement.
“Allowing workplaces to open without providing the people with the means to go there is like telling the President he can now cross the Pasig River from his residence to his office for as long he does not ride any boats,” he said.
“That, today, is the sink-or-swim situation for the nation’s breadwinners,” he added.
Recto clarified that the government could allow jeepney to return only by implementing health protocols.
He added that the government should also subsidize the jeepney operations since they can only operate half their capacity. MRT was given a P6 billion subsidy this year, Recto added.
“Running half-empty at the same old fares, further reduced for students and seniors, will be the final nail in their coffins,” he said.
Recto also said the government should add more buses and allow back riding for family members to ease the burden of commuters. Safe bike lanes and bicycles should also be provided to workers, he added.
Also read: Traditional jeepney phaseout continues amid crisis
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) also urged the government to bring back public transportation.
PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico said the government “should allow the operation of mass public transportation including buses and jeepneys” that should adhere to the “highest” standards in health and safety.
“At the same time, [the government should] look into more sustainable transportation modes and open more and wider pedestrian and bike lanes within the year,” he said.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), meanwhile, asked the government to develop transportation policies that are people-centered and sustainable.
“To alleviate the already dire situation of Filipino workers who are struggling to make ends meet, the commission calls on the government to ensure the operation of sufficient number of public transportation,” the CHR said in a statement on Sunday.
“Similarly, as people are already adopting alternative and nonmotorized modes of transportation such as biking, the government must provide short and long-term interventions to protect bikers during their commute,” the CHR added.