Jeepneys Will Still Not be Allowed to Operate in Metro Manila

Metro Manila has been placed under general community quarantine from June 1 to 15, and since then, mass transportation has been allowed to operate but with limited capacity, while employees have been allowed to go back to their offices.

The Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRTA) and the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT) is now back in operation as well as Point-to-Pont buses (P2P). Back in May 31, we reported that the Department of Transportation was looking into allowing jeepneys to operate if the buses and trains are not enough. But according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, we won’t be seeing jeepneys plying on the roads for commuters yet. 

“Pero sa ngayon po talaga dahil sa social hygiene at social distancing eh hindi pa din papayagan,” Roque said in an interview with GMA-7. “Nasa bottom pa din ng hierarchy of transportation mode ang mga jeepneys,” he continued.

The spokesperson however clarified that jeepneys are allowed to operate in provinces where there is no other viable transport option, with the prohibition only applying to Metro Manila. 

In an earlier report, the government shared that it was eyeing to tap jeepney drivers as contact tracers. Contact tracing according to WHO is the "process of identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent onward transmission."

But according to Roque, they will no longer be pushing through with the plan of drivers as contact tracers. Right now, the government is looking into recruiting the displaced drivers as a delivery service.