Jeepney modernization, but at what cost?
Class suspensions have bombarded the school year, with transport strikes being one of the reasons for the interruption of the regular school activities, much to the dismay of educators and the mixed emotions of the students. As we remained in the comfort of our homes, scrolling webpages, the protesters, amidst the uneducated public and the government, struggled to amplify their voice opposing the means of the administration to modernize the transport system.
The public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, launched by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), intends to replace 180,000 jeepneys aged 15 years or older with newer, safer, more environment-friendly, PWD-friendly and efficient models, fully equipped with CCTVs, a GPS navigation system, Wi-Fi, and other technology-centered specifications. In doing so, multinational companies will be involved in manufacturing the vehicles. New transport routes will also be proposed, drivers will be subjected to training, and the government will regulate the new franchising system, all of which aim to relieve the traffic condition of the country, provide safety and comfort to the commuters, and contribute to the well-being of the health of the public and of the environment by means of lessening air pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases.
While the program has its good intentions, it fails to acknowledge the plight of the poor, consisting of drivers, operators, and commuters, already struggling to make ends meet. The proposed modern vehicles cost approximately P1.5 million per unit, according to Crispin B. Beltran Resource Center (CBBRC). Despite the government subsidizing P80, 000, drivers and operators will still be forced to shell out around P800 per day for 7 years to pay for the loans provided by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), on top of the expenses in maintenance, fuel, and others. Considering their already low daily earnings, and the reality that their livelihood fails to suffice the basic needs of a family and of living a decent human life, drivers and operators will drown in a never-ending pool of debt in fulfillment of a program that only mainly benefits large-scale corporations and wealthy businessmen.
In addition, from P8, the fare will be increased to P20, according to CBBRC. This may seem like a small inconvenience in the name of change for the middle-class citizens who have the privilege of booking an Uber or Grab. However, the fare hike neglects the condition of those who already struggle greatly in budgeting their limited allowance to meet their daily needs, adding to the heavy burden and complications of poverty which affect 21.93 million Filipinos as of 2015, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The higher fares, in turn, instead of benefitting the jeepney drivers and operators, will be spent on paying the loan for 7 years, thus enforcing the seemingly anti-poor characteristic of the program.
In actuality, modernization of public utility vehicles is not inherently evil; it seeks to provide safer, more efficient, environment-friendly, and accessible means of public transport by utilizing the advancements of technology. However, such modernization should not be at the expense of thousands of families living in poverty just to benefit the privileged few. Instead of remaining apathetic towards the marginalized and immediately forcing modernization down everyone’s throat without actually having the means and the resources to sustain such, the government should provide ample consideration to the predicament of the poor, and strive to find a much better compromise that will be advantageous for all sectors.
