PUBLIC utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers need not worry about losing their livelihood when the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) is implemented as a Davao City councilor, who chairs the committee on transportation, will push for new route assignments.
Councilor Conrado Baluran said on Tuesday, March 3, that members of the Dabawenyo Kontra Jeepney Phaseout Coalition, a transport group opposing the HPBS implementation, reached out to his office to formally reject the project.
Transmission-Piston (Piston) secretary general and Dabawenyo Kontra Jeepney Phaseout Coalition member Larry Arguelles, previously, said they will lobby their opposition to the local legislative body since the Davao City government is already gearing towards its implementation starting this year.
Baluran already said in a previous report that the Council cannot stop the HPBS implementation since it has long been approved by the Council, and the financing of the bus system has been allocated by both the local and national government.
The councilor, however, said his committee can push for “developmental routes”, wherein they will be reassigned while the gradual phase out of jeepneys in concentrated areas in the city will take place.
“Pangitaan nato sila og developmental routes nga kon asa pwede pa sila makapamasada didto as long as dili nila maagian ang ruta sa HPBS (We will look for developmental routes wherein they can operate, as long as they will not traverse on the routes the HPBS will ply),” Baluran told reporters after the 19th City Council regular session.
He suggested these reassigned drivers will operate in areas wherein PUJs are scarce like Calinan and Toril. He added they can utilize the city’s existing access roads for their route.
The councilor said the group was initially open to the idea. However, he said they are requesting that they would be allowed to operate in the modernized bus system, using coaster or shuttle buses, which has a seating capacity between 30 to 40 passengers, similar to the low floor type city buses.
Meanwhile, he emphasized to them that the city will compensate them through the prepared compensation packages.
“Dili man gyud sila mawad-an og panginabuhian tungod dili man sila pasagdan ni Mayor Inday (Mayor Sara will not allow them to be left empty handed. They are guaranteed compensation),” Baluran said, adding they deserve a “win-win” solution for their plight.
He, however, understood their sentiments.
“Ato pud sila tagaan og chance ba, na tarungon og istorya. Kay dili man gud ta martial law nga ana nalang ditso (We should give them a chance to be heard. We should not impose immediately that they would be phased out like in a ‘martial law’ tone. In return, we should also let them understand about the city’s plan),” Baluran said.
Meanwhile, he said he will file the matter to the Council as he plans to conduct a committee hearing this month.
Sunstar Davao tried to reach out to Arguelles for his comment, but he has not responded as of press time.
Duterte-Carpio, in a previous interview, said the city will push the initial phase of the HPBS this year.
She said the city needs a modernized bus system to address the city’s worsening traffic problem.