lifeline jeepney
Jeepney Phaseout, Anti-poor?: Decoding
Jeepney Operators’ Protests on PUV Modernization
By Denise Miranda
Roads in the Philippines are lively because of this one important pillar in our country’s public transportation system—the jeepney. Throughout history, jeepneys or jeeps are considered to be the backbone of the public transportation of the Philippines. Apart from its cost-effective rates and accessibility, jeepneys also remain an important part of our culture. Considering the thousands of units of jeepneys that operate in major cities, alongside millions of its passengers, it is safe to conclude many people see jeepneys as instrumental and a part of our culture. Despite everything, why does the government want jeepneys to be phased out?
In a nutshell, the Department of Transportation or DOTr proposed the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, or the PUV Modernization Program which aims to replace traditional jeepneys that are aged 15 years or older. The goal of this program is to establish a transport system that makes commuting for the public “more dignified, humane, and on par with global standards.” While the objectives of the program are instrumental toward modernization, many people, including commuters, jeepney operators, and other government officials view this transition as something that is threatening to disrupt the lives of the affected sector.
Displacement of the sectors’ livelihood
Despite the PUV Modernization Program’s goals, several public transport groups, and allies protest this program, mainly because of the huge cost that the jeepney operators will need for the proposed transition to modern jeepneys. Transport group representatives and other individuals gave their sentiments about their worry about the debts that will be shouldered by the jeepney operators to comply with the program’s policies. Even though an amount of P160,000 will be given to jeepney operators as an equity subsidy, the price operators have to pay is still terrific.
Despite the PUV Modernization Program’s goals, several public transport groups, and allies protest this program, mainly because of the huge cost that the jeepney operators will need for the proposed transition to modern jeepneys. Transport group representatives and other individuals gave their sentiments about their worry about the debts that will be shouldered by the jeepney operators to comply with the program’s policies. Even though an amount of P160,000 will be given to jeepney operators as an equity subsidy, the price operators have to pay is still terrific.
With this, jeepney drivers and operators who fail to transition will not have much of a choice but to drop their long-time jobs as operators. The government seems to have overlooked the consequences of its policies, prompting operators to protest against their policy. To add, many people also worry about the government’s intention to allow big corporations to take charge of these jeepneys that won’t have the means to transition. If these corporations take over the jeepney operations of those who fail to join the modernizations, losing their livelihood will be inevitable.
Unfair policies for jeepney operators
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board or LTFRB gave a mandate to individual jeepney operators that they will only have until December 31, 2023, to join or form a cooperative to consolidate their jeepney franchises. This is also one of the requirements that operators need to undergo for this modernization program. Joining a cooperative means “urging drivers to come together,” and it is said that the purpose of forming a cooperative is that no individual operators will be left behind. Although this component will have benefits for the jeepney operators’ ends, including regular salaries and less competition, not a lot of them feel the need to join a cooperative. This is because more financial assistance is still needed by them to enable them to afford modern jeepneys, and they see joining a cooperative to be somehow still useless.
Additionally, individual jeepney operators find it “unjust” that one unit of modern jeepney costs around 2 million pesos. Indeed, for an individual jeepney operator, shouldering this huge amount will be impossible, unless the government has concrete plans about these unforeseen circumstances. People are still criticizing the need for individual jeepney operators and drivers to join or form cooperatives, even though some advantages of it are waiting for them. At the end of the day, these operators insist that this modernization program will put them in a disadvantageous position due to the incredibly high costs that are needed for them to purchase modernized jeepneys.
As of writing, individual jeepney operators and drivers will only have limited time to make the most out of their livelihood with their traditional jeepneys. Therefore, we, as commuters and as advocates of their rights will also have limited time in fighting for their rights. Our country’s traditional jeepneys have remained, and will always remain as a Filipino national symbol. The protests of jeepney operators and drivers to the PUV Modernization Program speak a lot, including its financial burden, absurd policies, unheard pleas from the government, and inflation rate. In the meantime, as commuters and advocates, let us continue to support traditional jeepneys, as they continue to embody their role in our country’s transportation system, which is to offer affordable means of transportation and remain a national symbol for the Philippines’ commuting culture.
Mundane Life of a Student Commuter
By Angel Sampaga
Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), a national transport group, led a three-day nationwide transport strike on Monday, November 20, 2023, which lasted until Friday in protest of the government's impending December 31 deadline. With the phaseout being pushed through, it will require jeepney drivers to replace old jeepneys with environmentally friendly models, a measure that the industry sees as an attempt to crush livelihoods.
Students are one of the patrons of the traditional jeepneys. Just like any other ordinary commuters, this serves as their mode of transportation in their daily lives. As students, these are the collective sentiments of fellow commuters on why traditional jeepneys need to stay on the road.
“'Pag gipit na o petsa de piligro na bilang estudyante, mas makakatipid ka kung mag je-jeep ka kasi may student discount ka.” – Kenneth Landazabal
“It's much more accessible because of its cheap fare and it's fast as well, especially where there are drivers na mahilig humarurot kung saan.” – Zeldrich Madrid
“Ako mismo ay kailangang-kailangan na sumakay ng jeep para umabot sa magkakasunod ko na klase sa magkakalayong building sa loob ng campus. Kung wala sila, paniguradong palagi akong huli sa klase.” – Dianna Burdeos
Jeepney is a vital part of every student's life. They are just a few of those who will be greatly affected by the jeepney phaseout proposed by the Marcos regime. In today's era of high fares and prices, these students are in support, and they stand with jeepney operators, as some of them are participating in the nationwide strike to stand with the drivers' call to abolish the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.
These are some of the appeals of the student commuters to the masses.
“Handa ‘yung mga drivers natin magutom, handa ‘yung mga drivers natin mag-welga para hindi sila matanggalan ng kabuhayan.” – Catherine
“Maraming nagsasabi na salot sa kalsada ang mga jeep, pero kung iisipin mo, ‘yung salot na tinutukoy nila ay ‘yung bagay na nagdadala sa kanilang mga destinasyon ng ligtas. Hindi na puwede mawala ang jeep sa kalsada natin dahil nakatatak na ito sa atin.” – Kenneth
The only thing that the student commuters want is for the government to listen to the grievances of the jeepney drivers. that they have nothing against the transportation sector being modernized. Their objection lies in the manner in which the program is being implemented.
