Stop the Misinformation Campaign
One way to tell if somebody is trying to deceive you, is by the way they will change terms to falsely equate one thing with another. The current effort to call common busses “Jeepneys” is one example of bureaucrats and special interests trying to misrepresent what they are attempting to have government do for their own economic interests. The iconic Philippine Jeepney is an easy target.
Jeepneys serve people needing affordable transportation
Made from the military jeeps left for junk after WWII, in the early 1950s, jeepneys began making their rounds in Manila. Soon, they became a solution to the post-war public transportation problem.
[1]How the Jeepney Became a Philippine National Symbol
Today they are a mainstay of transportation in Philippines.
In the United States, school transportation is a major cost of public education.
Many school children ride Jeepney at a tremendous cost savings over providing bus service.
As an Independent Journalist who has observed Philippines from afar for many years, and has now been here only a few months, I would like to suggest that leaders of this great country focus on elevating discussion about what would make this a better place for 114,000 million people instead of how more people at the lower economic strata can be further impoverished.
Many obvious concerns could be addressed if the interest was truly to improve the lives of Filipino people everywhere.
First recognize the Jeepney is an amazing symbol of what is great about Philippines
Detractors of Jeepney say the machines are old, they burn diesel fuel that causes pollution, they lack safety features of modern busses and the transportation system in general needs to be upgraded. These are all phony excuses. Many airplanes in Alaska are from the 1940-50s and they are very dependable and safe if kept in good mechanical order. Many diesel powered vehicles continue to be built and pollution issues can be mitigated with such things as catalytic converters. Safety is a red herring argument; life isn’t always safe and nobody wears seatbelts on busses, either.
[2]Weeklong jeepney strike to push through, The Philippine Star
The government’s plan to phase out Jeepney in favor of busses
How the phaseout will be conducted:
Change of ownership: Drivers and operators must form or be a part of a cooperative in otder t purchase modernised jeepney at the cost of Php 1.3 to Php2.4 million per unit.
Fleet management: Cooperatives or corporations will manage the fleet; and the vehicles will be under the name of cooperatives/corporations.
Route rationalisation: All routes will be reviewed; based on this, the new vehicles will be allocated based on user data.
The biggest winners: Major manufacturers of minibuses, lender/banks who will charge 6% p.a. interest and fleet management companies.
200,000
government’s “financial aid”, or purchase offer for old jeepneys that will be phased out.
“¢ 100%: New minibuses that will replace the old jeepneys (PUJs) will all be 100% imported units and spare parts.
“¢ 500,000: Estimated number of PUJ drivers will be affected, including 300,000 operators.
If the government really wanted to address transportation needs of Filipino people, priority would be helping the mostly single-operators who support their families with the daily grind of negotiating crazy traffic in Philippines. Jeepneys are like tanks compared to the exposure of motorcycles or tricycles, These drivers have been subsidizing the true cost of transportation for many people with their time and talents. Costs will surely be increas substantially if this economic means is eliminated.
Long Live the Philippine Jeepney!
As someone from one of the most pristine environments in the world–ALASKA!–let me offer a perspective some might not like to hear: If you care about the natural environment, why do people in Philippines allow litter to be everywhere? Signs on roads in Alaska say: $1,000 fine for littering! Picking up trash on the highways is a priority of community groups after a long winter of trash flying out of the back of pickup trucks.
Alaskans would be greatly offended if litter were to clutter this scene.
Why is Philippines one of the greatest polluters of the oceans? Why is the Pasig River so polluted? Philippines is so beautiful, it seems the elected officials would recognize this should be a matter of national pride.
For Jeepney the vultures are circling. Some say these public transportation conveyances must be replaced with expensive new busses built someplace else. With this strike tens of thousands of these colorful vehicles will not be on the roads for a week.
I will miss seeing them but I won’t riding any boring buses.
References:
[1]How the Jeepney Became a Philipine National Symbol
[2]Weeklong Jeepney Strike, Philstar
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/03/2248864/weeklong-jeepney-strike-push-through
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Salamat,
DONN
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