City prepares return of PUJs

CEBU, Philippines —  In preparation for the return of the public utility jeepneys (PUJ) in the city’s major thoroughfares, the Cebu City Jeepney Task Force has officially kicked off through a pre-registration of the traditional PUJs.

The ad hoc committee that City Councilor James Cuenco heads had recorded the data of the drivers and has set the schedule of the drivers’ COVID-19 rapid test during the onsite registration yesterday at the Plaza Sugbo grounds.

After the drivers’ evaluation using the guidelines the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board had set, inspection of the traditional PUJs would follow next week. Jeepneys that will meet the criteria may return to the city’s streets soon.

The task force had announced earlier that the 1,355 jeepneys is just part of the first batch and more may be allowed to return if assessment results are favorable. The revival of routes will open by batch.

There were 5,000 jeepneys that plied through the city streets before the pandemic.

The Cebu City Traffic Office will also conduct a seminar for jeepney drivers and operators before they are allowed to operate again.

Last week, Mayor Edgar Labella urged the drivers and operators to faithfully follow the government regulation covering public vehicles like the wearing of face masks and face shields, no eating, and no talking inside the unit.

The PUJ should maintain proper ventilation, disinfection after trip, and disallow symptomatic commuters and maintain social distancing.

Earlier, Clifford Niñal, barangay captain of Barangay San Nicolas and board member of the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative (CITRASCO), has objected to the decision of the city government to limit to 1,355 the number of traditional jeepneys that will be allowed to return to the streets.

He said this limitation would mean many drivers would still remain jobless. — GAN (FREEMAN)