Transport workers and commuters, represent

In my experience as a commuter, it has been quite rare to find talkative bus drivers and conductors.

- TONYO CRUZ

Most of the talk I usually hear come from fellow passengers, or noise from smartphones desperately needing earphones.

But in this particular bus ride, we passengers near the front were hearing the driver and conductor, loud and clear. We just politely listened.

Commuters that we are, we were surprised about their complaint: back to back trip schedules that deny them any rest. They were incensed that such frenetic schedules have gone beyond the usual peak season. Sometimes for 10 straight days or more.

To their credit, the driver and conductor were not complaining about the seemingly endless travel of commuters. That's good for the company's business, and is a public service transport workers like then would gladly serve.

But when scheduling by the company would give them less than an hour of rest between the "vice versa" trips, the driver and conductor said that's needlessly backbreaking.

For me, that's dangerous to their health, and even perhaps to the riding public.

Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon should also look into the working conditions of drivers and conductors, on top of the routes, terminals, and other infrastructure he has chosen to focus on.