(Don’t) dance the night away

The government’s modernization program is an inaccurate step in the right direction. Implemented back in 2017, the plan intends to radically change the country’s road transportation structure. Despite all its good intentions, its implications and implementations are too much for the country’s jeepney drivers to tolerate.

After many setbacks and delays, the program finally launched in full swing in 2023 with its first stage: phasing out the traditional jeepney. The reasons why this action is warranted can be attributed to the vehicle’s lack of safety, the frequent absence of proper permits and licenses, and often being the main cause of accidents. However, the main reason seems to be the vehicle’s significant amount of carbon emissions, as stated by several government heads during interviews, including President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

Instead of their current and obsolete vehicles, the government insists that jeepney drivers acquire a new, eco-friendly electric jeepney with its revolutionary design, accommodations, and safety standards that the traditional jeepney lacks. These jeepneys use electricity stored in their lithium-ion batteries, instead of gasoline as fuel, completely eliminating carbon emissions. These new rides can prove to be far more economical, with the absurd price of gasoline, compared to significantly cheaper electricity.

The problem, however, is while it may prove cheaper, safer, and better in the long run, these jeepneys are simply unaffordable to simple jeepney drivers, and the government has issued an impossible deadline for the drivers to abscond with their old jeepneys, and switch to the new, modern, and eco-friendly jeepney. This instigated the March transport strike in Metro Manila, and the government and jeepney drivers have been in a standoff ever since.

If the government’s main aim with the PUV modernization program is to reduce emissions, as multiple government officials in interviews have stated, then phasing out jeepneys does not come close to being the most optimal and efficient solution.

For one, electric jeepneys, while not producing carbon emissions during their operational use, are not as eco-friendly as the government would make the public believe. Electric jeepneys produce a large amount of greenhouse gases during their production, offsetting the possible environmental benefits of electric vehicles, a fact mentioned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during an interview about the topic.

Secondly, Jeepneys are not the main cause of air pollution in the Philippines. Carbon emissions produced by vehicles are significant but are largely overshadowed by emissions produced by industries and factories. Jeepneys are also more environmentally friendly than normal cars, even when belching the blackest smoke possible. A normal car can transport five to seven people at most, whereas a jeepney can ferry at most, twentytwo people, becoming more economical in the sense that it can transport more people with fewer trips.

The transport strike in Manila continues until today. Although the number of jeepneys on strike is significantly lesser than what was originally expected, it nonetheless disrupts many people’s lives. If the true aim of the program is truly environmental, then this modernization plan does not need to happen, or at least, not happen now as the government can focus on reducing carbon emissions by industries, and simultaneously resolve the issue causing unrest. As for safety concerns,

Worker strikes are uncommon in the Philippines, but as this situation has shown, all it takes is one bad day. Strikes are not limited to jeepney drivers. Supermarket workers, local palengke vendors, teachers, and medical workers can also go on strike, which would be devastating as their services are vital to the community. The Jeepney strike in Manila may inspire worker unions all over the country who feel unfairly treated by the government or society, causing a chain reaction of worker strikes that may even affect our quaint municipality, Polomolok. Thus, the National Government and Local Government Units (LGUs) must uphold good governance, respond to the community’s needs, and treat every member of society fairly, lest the wrath of the people is tested, and everyone ultimately suffers.

The return of full-on face-to-face classes in January reunited the students with once-familiar school events, group collaboration activities, and large-scale competitions. This reunion left unchecked will do more harm than good to us students.

We can all agree that school activities and events are vital to the high school experience as they offer a break from regular schoolwork such as quizzes and seatwork. Nevertheless, an overabundance of such can overlap each other, leaving the students to ration and budget their time, energy, money, and focus, just to keep afloat of their current activities. It is expected for subjects to issue group activities, such as roleplay, reports, dances, and other projects. Thus, it is unavoidable that activities will be assigned, regardless of how many the students are already dealing with. This is observable in the current school landscape, where, ever since the return to full school hours, students are bombarded by activity after activity and event after event.

It is also important to consider that along with dealing with long-spanning, timeconsuming activities, students are also expected to keep up and excel in their academics. While this may not be as noticeable in the Junior High School, it is most pronounced in the Senior High. Creating research papers, applying for colleges and scholarships, and studying for exams and quizzes in difficult strand-exclusive subjects, while also expected to cooperate with a group and create a five-minute dance routine consisting of different genres, just to pass a minor subject? It appears rather out of place.

Minor subjects like Physical Education, take up too much of the senior high students’ time as physical tasks, especially dance activities, take the longest time to prepare for. When a dance performance task is announced, an increment of 2-4 weeks is usually present between the announcement and the actual performance. Thereby consuming most of the students’ attention from the subjects that have more relevance in their future paths.

These long-spanning activities may also cause activities from major subjects, such as Math and Science, to be cancelled due to conflicting schedules, as a mercy on the already occupied, exhausted students.

While true that a variety of activities must be given to students for them to develop, and thus these types of activities are necessary, it also must be considered that the students must focus on subjects and topics that are relevant to them. This is again, pronounced with the Senior high department, where, by aim of the K-12 program, is to develop the students for college by introducing them and preparing them for their preferred career paths and futures, but instead, take most of their time worrying over their minor subjects.

Indeed, a review or further deliberation on this matter is an appropriate option for aligning the competencies and providing a clearer matrix or line up of performance tasks can be considered for improvement to be made.