Roadworthy traditional PUJs go back on the road today

MANILA: The LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) has permitted traditional PUJs (public utility jeeps) the ply existing routes, but granted their unit is registered as ‘roadworthy’ with the LTO (Land Transportation Office) and has a valid Personal Passenger Insurance Policy.

This comes after weeks of uncertainty for PUJ operators and drivers who have watched as other modes of transportation have begun operations.

Over the weekend, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra announced, along with the resumption of UV Express, that traditional PUJ will resume soon after and even went as far as saying it will happen this week.

“Pagkatapos maitalaga 'yung UV Express, on the same week din po, 'yung traditional jeepney (After the return of UV Express, traditional jeepneys will also come back within the same week),” Delgra said.

According to the LTFRB, only roadworthy, traditional PUJs can start plying their existing routes with ‘No Special Permit Necessary.’ Instead of a permit, a QR code will be issued to the operator. It must then be printed and prominently displayed in front of the PUJ.

The LTFRB will be lenient in the first three days of PUJ resumption and will not apprehend or fine units operating without a QR code until Sunday, 05 July.

PUJ operators and drivers will also not be required to pay to resume operations. All they need to do is seek their names from a list released by the LTFRB.

“Kapag nakita po ng operator ang pangalan nila, ibig sabihin (If the operator sees his or her name, this means) they will be allowed to operate today,” said DOTr (Department of Transportation) Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran.

As of today, 6,002 PUJs have been approved to operate and they will ply the 49 routes opened by the LTFRB. These are:

Camarin – Novaliches

Karuhatan - Ugong

Malabon - Monumento via Letre

Malabon (TP) - Navotas (TP)

Monumento - Navotas via Letre

Cubao - Proj. 4 via J.P. Rizal

Cubao - San Juan via N. Domingo

IBP Road - Lupang Pangako via Gravel Pit Road

Marikina - Pasig

Pantranco - Proj. 2 & 3 via Kamuning

Proj. 2 & 3 - Q Mart

Sucat-Highway - Bagumbayan

Ayala - Pateros via JP Rizal

Marikina - Pateros via Pasig

1. Boni - A. Mabini via 10th Ave
2. Bonifacio - D Tuazon/E. Rodriguez Ave.
3. Rivera - Raon via Severino Reyes

Ayala - Mantrade via Pasong Tamo

Ayala - Washington

Balic-Balic - Quiapo via Lepanto

Balic-Balic - Bustillos via G. Tuazon

Balic-Balic - Espana/M. Dela Fuente

Balintawak - Frisco

Balut - Blumentritt

Blumentritt - North Harbor via Divisoria

Boni - Kalentong JRC via Boni Avenue

Dian - Libertad

Divisoria - Gastambide via Morayta

Divisoria - Pier North via Plaza Moriones

Divisoria - Quiapo via Evangelista

Evangelista - Libertad

Divisoria - Velasquez

Guadalupe Market - L. Guinto via Pasig Line

1. Guinto - Sta. Ana

Herbosa/Pritil - P. Guevarra via Tayuman

Kalentong/JRC - P. Victorino via P. Cruz

Divisoria - Sta. Cruz via San Nicolas

Kayamanan C - PRC via Pasong Tamo

1. Guinto - Zobel Roxas via Paco

Lardizabal - Rizal Ave. via M. Dela Fuente

Lealtad - Quiapo (Barbosa) via Lepanto

Kalentong/JRC - Libertad (Mandaluyong) Nueve de Pebrero

Kalentong/JRC - Namayan via Vergara

North Harbor - Quiapo via Evangelista

1. Faura - San Andres

Quezon Ave. - Sta. Mesa Market via Araneta Avenue

Crame - San Juan via Pinaglabanan

Alabang - Sucat via M.L. Quezon

Soldiers Hill (Phase IV) - Talon via Alvarez

There will be no fare increase despite the fact that all permitted PUJs will operate at only 50% capacity. Temperature checking will be conducted, masks for passengers, masks and gloves for drivers are mandatory. Passenger contact forms will also be distributed to facilitate contact tracing.

“Inaasahan natin na susunod ang operator at mga tsuper sa mga safety operations tulad ng pagsuot ng maskara at guantes at ang maximum 50 percent operating capacity (We are expecting operators and drivers to comply with safety operations like wearing of face masks and gloves and a 50-percent maximum operating capacity),” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Photo from the LTFRB

Also read: MMDA: Traditional PUJ fatalities up 27% in 2019