SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has vowed to help preserve the iconic image of traditional jeepneys even as he demonstrated that the House of Representatives is always open to Filipinos from all walks of life.
“Basta ‘yong jeepney talaga ang, ‘yan talaga ang simbulo ng ating Pilipinas kaya dapat hindi ‘yan mawala, at suportado ko kayo dito. At ipe-preserve natin ‘yan, at dapat hindi ‘yan mawala sa ating bayan,” Romualdez told some 100 jeepneys drivers during a dialogue at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City.
The drivers sought a dialogue with Speaker who were holding a demonstration Wednesday just outside the House.
“Nagpapasalamat ako na lumapit kayo sa ‘kin para malaman din natin ang mga hinaing niyo po,” Romualdez told the rallyists.
“Bukas parati ang pintuan ng Kongreso para sa mamamayang Pilipino, lahat,” he added, triggering loud applause from the jeepney drivers.
“Ayokong mawala ang imahe ng ating jeepney…Lahat naman tayo, mahal naman natin ang ating mga jeepney, ‘yan talaga ang imahe talaga ng ating Pilipinong (kultura). Maski saan sa kantang ‘Manila’ ‘di ba, ang mga jeepney, sa mga kanta, basta mga jeepney ng mga Pilipino,” said the leader of the 300-plus strong chamber.
It was in the backdrop of this impromptu dialogue that Malacañang announced the extension of the deadline for jeepney consolidation under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The consolidation lapsed last Dec. 31, 2023, placing thousands on jeepney drivers on dire straits as their franchises effectively got revoked. These means they can no longer ply their routes after January 2024.
President Marcos’ three-month extension to the deadline gives a new lease on life to the drivers.
“Asahan ninyo po habang meron kayong kaunting challenges dito, na merong dislokasyon dito sa ating pagtatrabaho, meron tayo nitong mga ayuda, ‘di ba itong mga AICS, mga TUPAD, lahat ng maitutulong natin, mga social assistance para hindi kayo mahihirapan kasi sigurado po ako na hindi ito ang gusto ng ating mahal na Presidente na mahirapan po kayo,” Speaker Romualdez said.
He vowed that the House will always seek to have a positive impact on challenges confronting Filipinos.
“Nandito po tayo, dito sa Kongreso parating nandito tayo araw-araw, nandito tayo handang-handa hindi lang para makinig kun’di pero gagawan ng paraan o hahanap ng solusyon or options,” he said.
