Displaced traditional jeepney drivers to be tapped for BRT system

Local

TRADITIONAL jeepney drivers who may be displaced by Cebu's transport modernization could soon find themselves behind the wheel of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) unit.

This, after Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. opened the door on Monday, July 14, for their possible retraining and integration into the upcoming system.

In a Facebook post following a courtesy visit from leaders of PISTON Cebu, Archival said the city government was exploring ways to ensure that “no one is left behind” in the transition to a modern public transport system.

“Our goal is to ensure no one is left behind in the city’s transport,” Archival said. “We discussed that some of their members can be considered for training as CBRT drivers.”

The statement comes as the city intensifies efforts to prepare for the partial rollout of the CBRT, even as Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña continues to question the realignment and viability of the long-delayed project.

PISTON Cebu, an alliance of traditional public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators, raised several concerns during their meeting with the mayor.

These included the threat to livelihoods posed by the jeepney phaseout, steep traffic violation penalties, and unresolved route issues under the national modernization program.

The group submitted a position paper to the mayor’s office and proposed measures, including a possible executive order or ordinance that would nullify traffic violations not acted upon within 60 days.

Archival said the city would work closely with CITOM, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and other relevant agencies to address these concerns and find “sustainable solutions.”

The mayor’s pronouncement followed the city’s Monday flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, where both Archival and Osmeña addressed local government employees.

Osmeña, in his remarks, reminded public servants to remain humble and service-oriented.

“This is an administration that serves the people,” he said. “Never think that you are above the people—you are below the people.”

He also said that it is important to support constituents through basic services, such as distributing school supplies to students in need.

Archival, meanwhile, acknowledged improved traffic flow in Talamban and Banilad, citing the efforts of CITOM. He also reiterated the city’s push for better waste management practices, starting within government offices.

“Main roads are now cleaner, and we are requesting that solid waste segregation—biodegradable and non-biodegradable—be implemented right here at City Hall grounds,” Archival said.

The city government, he added, would continue promoting both responsive governance and practical environmental action.

Archival’s openness to involve displaced jeepney drivers in the CBRT comes at a time when the multibillion-peso mass transport project is under intense scrutiny.

Osmeña, the original proponent of the CBRT system, publicly criticized the project’s realignment away from high-density residential areas toward commercial centers like Ayala Center Cebu and SM Seaside.

“No one lives in SM or Ayala,” Osmeña said in a press conference last week. “The original BRT was designed to serve people, not businesses.”

He also flagged the project’s deviation from key technical standards, such as the exclusion of center-lane stations and pedestrian overpasses.

Osmeña questioned the use of a pedestrian walkway to the Cebu Port and raised concerns over the selection of renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue to design the CBRT stations.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced plans to shift the CBRT into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), but Osmeña expressed skepticism, saying the new route lacks the ridership to attract investors.

The World Bank, one of the project’s major funders, recently declared the CBRT as “high risk” in its July 1 implementation report. It cites slow construction progress, planning gaps, and bureaucratic delays.

The $141-million loan funding the project expires in September 2026.(TGP)