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JEEPNEY STRIKE COMMENCE NATIONWIDE AMIDST RED-TAGGING AND THREATS
BY PAUL ANGELO FABIA
Just this week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, amid pleas for an extension, allowed drivers of public utility vehicles to prepare for the worst: a prolonged period before cutting the cord on their livelihood, which has been on life support for a while Since 2017, the Department of Transportation has made a pipedream of exchanging old models of jeepneys for brand-new ones. They push narratives such as job production increases in the transportation and manufacturing sectors, and a decrease in carbon emissions
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The only (albeit huge) problem with such a proposal is that modern jeepneys are crazy expensive Each unit costs between 1 6-1 8 million PHP The average PUV driver has a median earning of 500 pesos before they call it a day. Higher boundary targets mean higher fares and higher fares mean an additional unfair burden on commuters who comprise most of the working class
Groups from the affected sector led by Pinagkaisang Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) and MANIBELA among others fielded a demonstration that started Monday, March 6, in a grueling weeklong strike to send a message that drivers get to have a say in issues directly afflicting their lives
The government sent 100 vehicles to congested areas during the strike and discussed setting up temporary online options Leaders' statements should only support the most vulnerable
By late at night on March 7, transport groups were engaged in talks with the government, prompting them to end the strike and resume operations in exchange for having the entire plan restudied It took a paralyzed transportation system for them to be listened to. This wasn't the first nor the last time that this ought to happen, and it's about time they were presented with real and lasting solutions that would better the lives of both drivers and commuters
Lastly, the classic jeepney had been a figurehead in Philippine pop culture, and discarding it in exchange for the new and shiny and costly was like cutting a piece off from the entire picture of what makes us Filipino
