DOTr eyes hiring PUJs as delivery units, opens more bus routes

MANILA: The DOTr (Department of Transportation) is studying the possibility of using PUJs (public utility jeeps) for delivery services in order to assist drivers and operators in making a livelihood during GCQ (general community quarantine).

“Kanina po, kasama ko rin si [Transport> Secretary [Arthur> Tugade, meron din silang plano na gawing delivery service ang ating mga jeepneys kasi nga po hindi pupuwedeng sakyan because hindi pupuwede ang social distancing (Earlier, I was with Secretary Tugade, they have a plan to use jeepneys as delivery services since they cannot carry passengers because there is no physical distancing [inside the jeepney>),” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The DOTr and DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) are working together to help operators and drivers to purchase modernized PUJs via government financing programs as these units have a seating arrangements similar to buses, which comply with physical distancing rules.

PUJ drivers are also eyed as contract tracers to fill up 120,000 slots needed as the country only has 30,000 at the moment.

Currently, only trains and bus augmentation services, taxis, TNVS (transport network vehicle services), shuttle services, point-to-point buses with limited passenger capacity and bicycles are allowed to operate under GCQ.

In related news, two more city bus routes have been opened today. These are:

• Route 2 Monumento – PITX (Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange)
• Route 29 PITX – General Mariano Alvarez

This makes it 15 routes in total that are operational out of the 31 rationalized routes identified by the DOTr.

Also read: Gov’t to private sector: Provide shuttles for workers, encourage WFH

Photos courtesy of the Department of Transportation