As the government pushes for the full-scale implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, a notable fraction of jeepney drivers still refuse to cooperate and their defiance compromises the overall welfare of commuters. That is tantamount to "hostage-taking."
This was the direct statement of National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection Inc. convenor Elvira Medina in a media forum held by Capstone-Intel Corporation about the current state of transportation in the country.
The nationwide survey of Capstone-Intel which aimed to explore public perception of transportation in the Philippines, revealed that the majority of Filipinos "approve" of the initiative with over 70 percent positive sentiments online. The survey also showed that the jeepney remains to be among the most commonly used modes of transport across the country.
Medina supported the accuracy of Capstone-Intel's survey as it aligns with the latest statistics saying over 70 percent of jeepneys have already consolidated but about 30 percent still have not.
The survey was also timely because of the transport strike last 14 and 15 December in protest of the jeepney modernization program.
Medina slammed those who refuse to partake in the modernization for putting commuters in discomfort.
"What I've been telling the press before and even now, what these people are doing is that they are blackmailing the government and using commuters as hostages. 'Hindi kami lalabas, kawawa ang commuters ninyo.' Hindi ba hostage taking 'yon?" She said.
Consequently, distress among commuters affects the economy as a whole, Medina added.
"They refuse to ply the commuters which are mostly people who are working. It's the commuters that deliver the goods, the products, and the services that are being used by the country's economy and the people who are preparing themselves to be the next employees or generators of the economy and these are the students. So dalawang sectors 'yung kanilang tina-target and this is definitely against the law," she explained.
Medina also pointed out that the boundary system, or the scheme engaging drivers to drive jeepney units of owners or operators for an arranged unit use fee, has to see its end.
"Boundary system is an evil in the system. That is one of the things that the government wants to address — make the drivers know they are owners because they are cooperatives. Sila na 'yung mag-ma-mayari in the long run but it is the cooperative's responsibility to make sure that all their amortizations are paid," she said.
Old jeepneys are 'rolling coffins'
According to Medina over and above other issues about jeepney modernization, commuter safety and security are the primal concern for the strong push of the initiative.
This is because old, traditional jeepneys offer little to no safety to commuters given their antiquated design and functionality.
Medina said most jeepneys have life spans of over fifty years already and this poses serious risks to the lives and safety of commuters.
"None of them have handbrakes and most of the seats are not welded and the body. So I've been asking those who interviewed me in the press, are you going to allow your children to take a ride in a vehicle that has no handbrake or the seats are not welded. Will you take the chance?" Medina said.
Medina resolutely described old-type jeepneys as "rolling coffins. They are all putting our lives in danger," she added.
Capstone-Intel's chief of public affairs, Atty. Nic Conti, supported the issue of safety and believes that the government should score a solution balancing Filipino traditional transport with local and international mass transport standards.
"Bakit po mahalaga ang kaligtasan ng pasahero? Tao po sila at sila po ang dahilan kung bakit may negosyong ganito? Part of the modernization is actually installing additional safety measures like an anti-lock braking system, speed limiter, etc.," he said.
"At importante po na makita natin na 'yung modernization ay balansehin 'yung very iconic and traditional yung way of transport natin yung jeepney parang na-identify na po ang mga Pilipino sa jeepney. Still, we have to align and upgrade our transport pagdating po sa standards hindi lang po local but international standards at that," he added.
