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Commuters help each other pull in baggages of other passengers in a jeepney in Mandaluyong City on December 27, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Lady Vicencio

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Commuters help each other pull in baggage of other passengers in a jeepney in Mandaluyong City on December 27, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file" src="https://news-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20240520100528/fff74ea7254e33cf37442f5017f4552cecc95fa6b59c4afe0cf465322d4b13d6.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>Commuters help each other pull in baggage of other passengers in a jeepney in Mandaluyong City on December 27, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Students and workers on Monday reported having difficulties in their daily commute after unconsolidated jeepney drivers have stopped operations since May 1.</p><p>Traditional jeepneys that used to service Paco-Sta. Mesa-Rotonda route in Manila are all parked in a garage after no operator decided to join the consolidation under the PUV Modernization Program.<br/><br/>Past the April 30 consolidation deadline, unconsolidated PUVs may face apprehension and a fine of P50,000 while their units may be impounded.</p><p><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/4/30/unconsolidated-jeepneys-to-be-considered-colorum-after-april-30-ltfrb-1517" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Unconsolidated jeepneys to be considered &#x27;colorum&#x27; after April 30: LTFRB</a><br/><br/>Jomar Santos, a college student, said it takes him 30 minutes to an hour to catch a ride in modern jeepneys plying his route. Traditional jeepneys were his usual ride to and from school.<br/><br/>“Saglit lang dati noong wala pang mga strike. ngayon, sobrang hirap po,” Santos said.</p><p>(It didn&#x27;t take me long to get a ride when there were no strikes. Now it&#x27;s so hard to get a ride.)</p><p>“Simula last week, parang wala na kaming nasasakayan na jeep kaya sobrang hirap talaga. Nagmamaaga kami,” he added.<br/><br/>Students like Isaac Anton Bo resort to riding tricycles instead since modern jeepney units are limited along this route.<br/><br/>“Mahirap kasi maraming sumasakay,” Bo said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/30/chopping-up-traditional-jeeps-1859" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chopping up traditional jeeps</a></div><p>(It&#x27;s hard to get a jeepney ride since so many people are riding.)</p><p>Aside from longer wait to ride a PUV, Bo said tricycle rides are more expensive than jeepney rides.<br/><br/>“Jeep pa rin po kasi mas nakakamura po. P10 po ang dagdag sa tricycle,” Bo said.</p><p>(Jeep rides are still cheaper. Tricycle rides are more expensive by P10.)<br/><br/>Meanwhile, transport groups led by Manibela are holding protest rallies in 9 locations in Metro Manila starting Monday, May 20, to urge the government to allow unconsolidated drivers and operators to return to their livelihood.</p><p><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/14/sc-urged-to-halt-puv-modernization-program-as-apprehension-looms-1151">SC urged to halt PUV modernization program as apprehension looms</a><br/><br/>One jeepney operator, who refused to be named, shared to ABS-CBN News some of them risk plying their old routes at night to earn a living.<br/><br/> “Sa gabi, pinabibiyahe pa rin para kahit papaano, kumikita ‘yong drive namin. Kung magkano pera mo, labas diesel, pinaghahatian na lang namin.. Nakakaawa naman kung ako lang lalabas,” the operator said.</p><p>(Even at nighttime, we still drive just so we could earn more. We subtract the cost of diesel from whatever we earn, then divide that amount amongst ourselves. It&#x27;s not like I can go out alone and earn alone.)<br/><br/>“Nahihirapan kami baka matyambahan kami. Saan kami kukuha ng pambayad? Hindi na kami bumibiyahe tapos matyatyambahan pa kami. Parang pantawid lang sa amin ‘yon para may makain,” he added.</p><p>(it&#x27;s hard because we might get caught. If we are caught, where do we get money to pay for our needs? We&#x27;re just going out so we can buy food.)</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ULtndkdrdFw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br/><br/> Manibela President Mar Valbuena said groups will continue holding protest rallies until unconsolidated operators and drivers are back on the roads.<br/><br/> “Walang kahandaan na bigla na lang aalisan ng hanapbuhay… Panawagan natin makabalik ang prangkisa,” Valbuena said.</div><p> (We were not prepared when they took away our livelihood...we hope they&#x27;ll restore our franchises.)</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/26/end-of-the-road-philippine-jeepneys-face-uncertain-future-1201" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">End of the road? Philippine jeepneys face uncertain future</a></div>

<p>More than two weeks after the consolidation deadline under the PUV Modernization Program, many passengers in routes without traditional jeepneys plying are having difficulty getting a ride.</p>

More than two weeks after the consolidation deadline under the PUV Modernization Program, many passengers in routes without traditional jeepneys plying are having difficulty getting a ride.

Commuters look for alternative transportation sans jeepneys

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Commuters look for alternative transportation sans jeepneys

Lady Vicencio,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 20, 2024 05:31 PM PHT

Read More:

jeepney

franchises

jeepney modernization

POGO modernization

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