By Fernan Angeles
THE number of public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying in Metro Manila is not enough during quarantine period, said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general Manager Jojo Garcia.
In an interview, Garcia said that available public transportation in the region would never be able to cater to the number of public commuters because of the 50 percent limit in passenger capacity.
“Hindi pa rin magiging enough dahil ang capacity po ng ating public transport ay nasa 50 percent lang because of physical distancing,” Garcia was quoted as saying during the interview.
“Pero may mga naka-standby pa rin kami na libre sakay,” he said.
Garcia earlier said commuters will have more public transportation options as Metro Manila returns to general community quarantine (GCQ) on August 19.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB ) recently opened additional routes for traditional public utility jeepneys and UV Express vehicle units in Metro Manila.
LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III said a total of 12,443 traditional jeepneys were authorized to operate along 126 routes. For UV Express, at least 1,621 units were authorized in 51 routes.
The LTFRB also allowed 3,662 public utility buses in 31 routes; 364 point-to-point buses in 33 routes; 20,493 taxis; 23,776 transport network vehicle service units; and 716 modern PUJs in 45 routes in NCR.
“There is actually an increase close to 60 percent of the units of the traditional PUJ from what was opened as late as August 4 to what will open starting tomorrow until August 20,” Delgra then said.
“Hopefully, this will avoid and avert problems in the past as regards sa kakulangan ng public transport,” he added.