geraldine tingco,
When we hear the term “Hari ng Kalsada”, we instantly know that it refers to the king of public transportation in the Philippines: the jeepney. These vehicles have been part of our public transportation system ever since the 1950s. They are a part of our history and our culture. However, it seems like the end of the road has come.
Last Monday, the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) held their 4th transport strike as in opposition to the jeepney modernization plan.
In 2016, the Duterte government affirmed that they were going to conduct a phase-out of jeepneys that have been running along our roads for more than 15 years. The old jeeps will be replaced by electric jeeps or e-jeeps as part of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. This program aims to ensure the safety of the passengers taking PUVs and lessen the environmental risks produced, such as excessive smoke from worn-out jeepneys. Two years were given to drivers and operators to comply.
However, despite the time given to buy their own e-jeeps, how can a simple tsuper, who earns a range of Php 500 to 2,000 per day, save up Php 1.4 million in two years?
Although the government has allocated Php 2.2 billion to help the affected jeepney drivers and operators with the expenses, this amount will be distributed to at least 28,000 jeepney operators, leaving them with only Php 80,000 each.
Apart from the drivers and operators, commuters who rely on jeepneys as their mode of transportation will also suffer.
Not every tsuper will be able to buy these new jeeps, leaving us with fewer options to choose from for our transportation needs. With the replacement of our jeeps, there will be a high chance of a fare increase. The commuters will then gain another burden because of the need to adjust their budget allocated for pamasahe.
Imagine the hardship of the commuters every day during the rush hours if the old jeepneys were banned. Overloaded jeeps and buses, and cramped trains are already common sights in our country. Sometimes, passengers are even stranded, or forced to walk to their destinations because of the lack of transportation available. If the modernization wipes out the jeepneys in our country, these hardships will double — even triple — because of the lack of vehicles available.
Besides these, there will not only be a loss of options for public transportation, but also a loss of an iconic Filipino cultural symbol.
The concept of jeepneys that we use today originated from the Second World War jeeps, which were originally used for military purposes. Models, later abandoned were remodeled by the Filipinos and converted into something more useful to them. That something later became one of the most popular modes of transportation in the Philippines.
Not only just a functional vehicle, jeepneys also show the creativity of Filipinos, usually having intricate designs on their bodies showing our rich heritage. They are sometimes personalized by its drivers to match their personality, family, and inspiration, and flaunt them on their jeepneys as work of art. Different representations of our culture can be seen in every corner of the country since they are reflected by the paintings on the sides of these vehicles.
Even though a lot of jeepneys running in our country are used more than a decade or two, it does not mean that they should be banned from being PUVs. Old jeepneys that are well-maintained and have their gears changed or upgraded every now and then should be exempted from the phase out. It is unfair for the operators to have their cars sent to the wrecking yards despite being roadworthy.
The kings of our roads may be old, but they have greatly contributed to our society in several aspects in our nation like public transportation, culture, and history. With the jeepney phase-out, a large part of the Filipino community will be affected. The Philippines will also lose one of its trademarks once the kings of its roads are kicked out of society. The phase-out should be reviewed once again in order to consider the effects on the drivers, operators, and commuters who will be affected.//by Marlyn Go and Geraldine Tingco
Opinion: The Fall of the Kings
When we hear the term “Hari ng Kalsada”, we instantly know that it refers to the king of public transportation in the Philippines: the jeepney. These vehicles have been part of our public transportation system ever since the 1950s. They are a part of our history and our culture. However, it seems like the end of the road has come.
Last Monday, the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) held their 4th transport strike as in opposition to the jeepney modernization plan.
In 2016, the Duterte government affirmed that they were going to conduct a phase-out of jeepneys that have been running along our roads for more than 15 years. The old jeeps will be replaced by electric jeeps or e-jeeps as part of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. This program aims to ensure the safety of the passengers taking PUVs and lessen the environmental risks produced, such as excessive smoke from worn-out jeepneys. Two years were given to drivers and operators to comply.
However, despite the time given to buy their own e-jeeps, how can a simple tsuper, who earns a range of Php 500 to 2,000 per day, save up Php 1.4 million in two years?
Although the government has allocated Php 2.2 billion to help the affected jeepney drivers and operators with the expenses, this amount will be distributed to at least 28,000 jeepney operators, leaving them with only Php 80,000 each.
Apart from the drivers and operators, commuters who rely on jeepneys as their mode of transportation will also suffer.
Not every tsuper will be able to buy these new jeeps, leaving us with fewer options to choose from for our transportation needs. With the replacement of our jeeps, there will be a high chance of a fare increase. The commuters will then gain another burden because of the need to adjust their budget allocated for pamasahe.
Imagine the hardship of the commuters every day during the rush hours if the old jeepneys were banned. Overloaded jeeps and buses, and cramped trains are already common sights in our country. Sometimes, passengers are even stranded, or forced to walk to their destinations because of the lack of transportation available. If the modernization wipes out the jeepneys in our country, these hardships will double — even triple — because of the lack of vehicles available.
Besides these, there will not only be a loss of options for public transportation, but also a loss of an iconic Filipino cultural symbol.
The concept of jeepneys that we use today originated from the Second World War jeeps, which were originally used for military purposes. Models, later abandoned were remodeled by the Filipinos and converted into something more useful to them. That something later became one of the most popular modes of transportation in the Philippines.
Not only just a functional vehicle, jeepneys also show the creativity of Filipinos, usually having intricate designs on their bodies showing our rich heritage. They are sometimes personalized by its drivers to match their personality, family, and inspiration, and flaunt them on their jeepneys as work of art. Different representations of our culture can be seen in every corner of the country since they are reflected by the paintings on the sides of these vehicles.
Even though a lot of jeepneys running in our country are used more than a decade or two, it does not mean that they should be banned from being PUVs. Old jeepneys that are well-maintained and have their gears changed or upgraded every now and then should be exempted from the phase out. It is unfair for the operators to have their cars sent to the wrecking yards despite being roadworthy.
The kings of our roads may be old, but they have greatly contributed to our society in several aspects in our nation like public transportation, culture, and history. With the jeepney phase-out, a large part of the Filipino community will be affected. The Philippines will also lose one of its trademarks once the kings of its roads are kicked out of society. The phase-out should be reviewed once again in order to consider the effects on the drivers, operators, and commuters who will be affected.//by Marlyn Go and Geraldine Tingco
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