NANAWAGAN si House committee on ways and means chairman Joey Salceda na payagan nang bumiyahe ang mga provincial buses.
Ang kailangan lamang umanong tiyakin ng gobyerno ay masusunod ang minimum health standards.
“A rational system of public transport takes human realities into account. These are the realities: One, local government units are already transporting citizens to and from Manila. Two, some bus lines are already operating. Three, we have already allowed people to go to work in most places. A continuation of provincial bus bans, at this point, would have very little utility as far as preventing infections is concerned, and great damage to the mobility of people who have to go to work,” paliwanag ni Salceda.
Sinabi ni Salceda na makakabawi lamang ang ekonomiya ng bansa kung mayroon ng mga biyahe.
“People are the driving force of the economy, and if people find it hard to move, the economy will likewise find it hard to get going,” ani Salceda.
Ayon kay Salceda kung mayroon ng problema dapat itong pag-usapan.
“If there is an issue with pricing fares, because I understand that due to social distancing, the supply of seats will be reduced, we should talk it out with the regulators. Perhaps we could come up with some government program that allows provincial buses to operate at reasonable margins without compromising safety and health standards. But it has to be negotiated at the proper forum. Any attempt at price gouging should be monitored.”
Nanawagan naman si Salceda sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na huwag ipilit ngayon ang plano na limitahan ang biyahe ng mga provincial bus sa Metro Manila.
“There were attempts in the past to ban provincial passengers from EDSA and to channel all passenger traffic in Paranaque. Don’t do it in the middle of this crisis, when even going to Paranaque will prove to be a problem. Now is not the time. Don’t even think about it.”
Nakikipag-ugnayan rin umano si Salceda sa mga transport advocates upang makabuo ng sistema gaya ng service contracting upang mas maging maayos ang biyahe ng mga pampublikong sasakyan.
“COVID-19 has forced us to look at transport the right way: It has to be a system whose sole purpose is the comfort and convenience of the commuter. We do not build transport systems so that private cars can have a smoother trip. We build transport systems so that the Filipino worker can go from home to work and back with well-deserved ease, earn a decent living, and create value for himself, his family, and his country. I will strongly object to any scheme, regulation, or move that goes against that essential purpose,” dagdag pa ni Salceda.
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