There’s both good news and bad in so far as
public transportation is concerned.
The good news for jeepney drivers and the
public is that public utility vehicle (PUV) operators who
have yet to comply with the consolidation requirement
under the government’s PUV modernization program
will still be allowed to ply selected routes.
The bad? They only have until the end of
January 2024 to do so.
Last month, President Marcos stood firm
against extending the Dec. 31 deadline for PUVs to
join or organize cooperatives that would be issued
consolidated franchises in line with the PUV modernization program.
These groups would be entitled to government subsidies, access to credit facilities, and other
forms of assistance to help modernize their fleets.
It seems, however, that the month-long reprieve appears to be too short to allow PUV operators
adequate time to meet LTFRB requirements for the
modernization program.
We can’t help but think this is a concession
given to PUV operators to placate or mollify them and
keep them from continuing their protest actions in the
streets.
The inevitable result of the ban on traditional
jeepneys by Jan 31 could be a massive public transportation crisis in Metro Manila and elsewhere by Feb
1.
And, with it, more protests from the affected
jeepney drivers and operators who stand to lose their
source of livelihood.
We do realize the need to modernize the
country’s transportation system.
The US Army jeeps transformed into jeepneys
since the end of the Second World War and a staple
of mass transportation since then have become an
anachronism in this day and age when other fast and
affordable transport modes are already available.
Many traditional jeepneys running in city
streets today have seen better days and run on diesel
fuel that spews out toxic fumes that impair the quality
of air we breathe in the cities.
But instead of banning traditional jeepneys
outright, the government could perhaps subsidize their
conversion to more- environment-friendly vehicles and
limit their routes to certain areas.
Or they could be allowed to operate in the
provinces that need more transport
We need to modernize our mass transport
system with more light rail trains, buses that run on
dedicated lanes, and perhaps more subways since our
road networks in the National Capital Region are already too congested with rapid population growth and
few transportation options.
We understand that several transport groups
that have long been opposed to the consolidation requirement cite not only the loss of their livelihood but
also express concern that the franchise consolidation
scheme might lead to big businesses and corporations
monopolizing transport routes.
But a rationalized mass transport system may require
professional management by the private sector working in tandem with government in modernizing our
mass transport system to world standards instead of
relying on discards from the Second World War.
