CDN file
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Jeepney Task Force (JTF) reminded operators of traditional and modern jeepneys that they can ply the streets the whole day even during curfew hours.
Councilor James Cuenco, head of the JTF, said that since the Balik Pasada Program began in October 2020, all public transportation units could already ply the streets for 24 hours a day.
All public utility vehicles (PUVs), especially the jeepneys, are allowed to travel beyond the curfew hours of 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. because workers taking the night shifts, who are also exempted from the curfew, will need a mode of transportation.
Although many companies are providing shuttles for workers, Cuenco said many were still reliant on public transport.
This is why he is urging the jeepneys to ply at night especially those taking the routes in business parks like IT and Cebu Business Park, where call centers are located, and routes that traverse the major hospitals in the city.
“It’s up to them whether they would ply the routes. We understand nga hesistant atong jeepney operators kay lagi naa may shuttle ang employees pero duna man pud nga wala so maayo pud unta nga modagan silag gabii,” said Cuenco.
(It’s up to them whether they would ply the routes. We understant that the jeepney operators are hesitant because the employees have shuttle service but there are others who don’t have this service so it is still better for them to ply their routes at night.)
As of now, there are already 963 jeepneys plying various routes in city and there is no shortage of public transport in the business zones here.
Still, Cuenco said many jeepney operators and drivers might have not been informed that they were allowed to ply the street beyond the curfew hours.
This also led to workers thinking that public transport were not available during their shifts causing a gap between the demand and supply.
Cuenco said he hoped that some jeepney drivers could choose to ply the roads at night for the workers that would need them.
There is no additional permit or requirement for jeepneys, who wish to ply the streets beyond the curfew hours, and law enforcers are also informed that PUVs can operate on these hours.
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