QUEZON City, Philippines (February 20) – Jeepneys or Jeeps were originally used by American soldiers during the World War II as a military vehicle. As the war ended, Americans left it in the country and enterprising Filipinos modified it – allowing the lowly jeep to become the king of the road.
The crowded seating was soon overshadowed by how it was artistically adorned – soon the jeep became an iconic representation of Filipino pop culture. Not only that, the jeepney is considered as the most conspicuous mode of transportation among the Filipino masses.
Riding a jeep has been part of the everyday lives of most Filipinos, whether you are heading for work or school, there surely be a jeep that could take you to your destination. However, this routine is on the verge of extinction.
In 2002, then Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) issued an order mandating the phase-out of jeeps that had been on the road for at least 15 years, for implementation by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board or LTFRB, in a bid to modernize public transport and minimize the effects of old engines on the environment.
The primary objective of the said order was to keep the public safe when they are on the road and at the same time, let our daily rides be environmentally friendly for the jeepney is one of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions. This is set to be implemented by January 2018. Of course, jeepney operators and drivers were screaming for a different solution.
Numerous transport strikes were staged following that order. Operators and drivers will be the primary absorber of the effect of the phase once it is implemented. If the government plans to phase out old jeepneys, around 600,000 drivers will lose their job and 250,000 operators will also lose their business.
It was in December 2015, when LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez cleared that there isn’t a phase-out policy yet. There’s a draft memorandum circular, but it is only a working draft for consultation purposes. It has not been signed yet, it is not effective yet, and there is no plan to implement it in 2016. That statement was provided after a dialogue with Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) led a “transport holiday” in south Metro Manila.
Last December 2016, The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has made it clear that based on the memorandum circular on mandatory phase out of old public utility jeepneys (PUJ), the agency is giving all jeepney operators from January 1 to December 31, 2016 to voluntarily replace their old units if they want their livelihood to continue. In line with that, the government is said to provide to jeepney operators financial assistance as they comply with the phase-out policy. PUJs will be replaced with e-jeepneys, which is said to meet the criteria of being commuter-, environment-, driver- and operator- friendly jeep.
Transport groups did not hold anything back in expressing their opposition on the said order. They are crying for the lack of public consultation on the implementation of the said order. PASANG MASDA (Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila & Suburbs Drivers Association) President Obet Martin said, “Dapat diyan nagkaroon ng public consultation.” Zenny Maranan, President of FEJODAP (Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines) said, “Matagal na kaming nakikipag-ugnayan. Ayaw niya sa amin makipag-usap lagi niya sinasabi hindi kami karapatdapat kausap.”
The most recent protest was held last February 6, 2017, in which the Stop and Go Coalition called on its members to protest the government’s plan to phase-out passenger jeepneys 15 years old and above in a bid to modernize transport vehicles and make these environmentally-friendly. Just like any other protest related to the jeepney phase-out scheme, the reason remains the same, no to phase-out but yes to upgrades in jeepneys and reforms in road-worthiness rules. The group is staged a picket rally in front of the Department of Transportation office along MIA Road in Pasay City.
Resources:
http://www.philstar.com/metro/2016/01/05/1539384/drivers-slam-dotc-plan-phase-out-.6-m-jeepneys
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/lawmaker-tells-dotc-ltfrb-go-slow-on-old-jeepney-phaseout-plan/
(written by Aronica Azores, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)