Senator Grace Poe on Thursday chided Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Richmund De Leon over his “insensitive” remarks against jeepney drivers and operators.

“Walang pakiramdam itong mga taong ito,” Poe said. “Ano, gigising ka nang napakaaga para mamasada, trip-trip lang ‘yon, para lang pampalipas oras?”

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“‘Yung mga driver na nakapagtaguyod ng kanilang mga anak na nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral, bakit kaya nila ginagawa ang sakripisyong ito?” she added.

De Leon earlier said that driving a jeepney, as a form of public transportation, should no longer be viewed as a source of livelihood.

“There are so much competing modes vying for space in our streets; making public transportation inefficient… nag-aaway pa minsan ‘yan. Kasi nga, tiningnan noong mga bawat operator na livelihood itong public transportation. Pero I will tell you guys, mali po iyong pagtingin na livelihood ang isang public transportation,” De Leon said in a briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.

Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, reminded Transport officials to support those who will be affected by the modernization since several transport groups have been complaining that the subsidy they will receive is insufficient to purchase a “modern” jeepney that costs about P1.8 million.

“Kung P1.8 million, tapos ang kanilang subsidy ay [maliit] lang, papaano sila makakabili ng jeep? Itong mga bagay na ito ay siguro dapat isip-isipin naman ng DOTr. Kapag magbitiw sila ng salita, akala mo talagang walang compassion, walang pakiramdam para sa mga kababayan nila,” Poe said.

Poe also said that the subsidies for the jeepney drivers, specifically the Pantawid Pasada Program under the tax reform should be released in full. /kga

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