Speaker Martin Romualdez 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 simbolo 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 jeepney drivers during a dialogue at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City.
The drivers who were holding a demonstration outside the Bataan complex on Wednesday sought a dialogue with the Speaker.
“Nagpapasalamat ako na lumapit kayo sakin.”
“Nagpapasalamat ako na lumapit kayo sakin para malaman din natin ang mga hinaing niyo po,” the veteran legislator told the rallyists.
“Bukas parati ang pintuan ng Kongreso para sa mamamayang Pilipino, lahat,” the seasoned lawmaker added, triggering loud applause from the jeepney drivers.
“Ayokong mawala ang imahe ng ating jeepney.”
“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 of jeepney drivers in dire straits as their franchises effectively got revoked. This means they can no longer ply their routes after January 2024.
The three-month deadline extension 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,” Romualdez said.
He vowed that the House will always seek to have a positive solution 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,” Romualdez concluded.
