TRANSPORT: MANILA- Robredo meets with transport leaders, tackles possible recovery path

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group leaders from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog met with Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday, to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns on drivers.

According to information from the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Robredo and the transport leaders also talked about possible means that would allow drivers to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic.

“Vice President Leni Robredo held a consultation meeting with the leaders of various transport groups from Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog in her office at Quezon City Reception House on Friday, October 9, 2020,” the OVP statement said.

“VP Leni discussed with the representatives of transport groups the impact of the pandemic on the lives of thousands of drivers displaced by the community quarantine and their families,” it added.

Aside from providing livelihood assistance to the groups, Robredo also encouraged the drivers to look for new jobs using the Sikap.PH website which OVP and its private partners launched.  Under the “Bayanihanapbuhay” initiative, jobseekers would no longer need to leave their homes to apply for jobs, as it can be accessed online.

Drivers of jeepneys and other public transportation modes were heavily hit by the lockdowns, as government was forced to ban these vehicles for some time to avoid possible coronavirus transmissions.  Last June, a research think-tank estimated that jeepney drivers have already lost around P78,000 worth of income during that time.

JPV