LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA—Mang Jess, 65, has been driving a jeepney for a living since 1975. He was barely 20 when he started, and his daily boundary was P20.
Now, he drives his own jeepney for five years, shuttling passengers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) to Bayan (downtown) and vice versa.
In a few years, we may see fewer and fewer units such as Mang Jess’ jeepney. The iconic jeepney, a long-time cultural symbol of the Philippines, will eventually be replaced by electric jeepneys under the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, which was launched in 2017.
Last January 31, four e-jeepneys began plying the UPLB-Bayan route after a soft launch held inside the campus.
Dubbed the “eLBeep,” these refurbished multicabs were acquired by the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Drivers at Operators ng Los Baños (SNODLOB), a transport cooperative established in 2006, through the help of the Lipeños Multi-Cab Transport Service and Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
The initiative is the cooperative’s partnership with the municipal government and UPLB, whose goal is to become a green university.
“This is just one of the ways to show that we are serious in future-proofing UPLB,” Jose Camacho Jr., UPLB chancellor, said.
Other projects like the introduction of electric bicycles and the construction of bicycle lanes are already lined up.
Eco-friendly
Since the start of the year, fuel prices have been steadily rising, with a total net increase of P5.70 per liter for gasoline, P7.95 per liter for diesel, and P7.20 per liter for kerosene as of February 1, according to a Department of Energy (DOE) price watch report.
The price increases are chipping off chunks from jeepney drivers’ earnings, giving them less money to take home.
The eLBeep units totally do away with fuel since they’re electrically powered.
Shifting to electric vehicles would make more and more sense in light of the seemingly never-ending fuel price increases.
The use of e-jeepneys can lessen carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. It can also reduce carbon emissions, air pollution, and noise pollution.
“By shifting to the electric jeepney, we want to eliminate these three,” Roberto Cereno, UPLB vice chancellor for community affairs, said.
“If they can’t be eliminated, at least they can be reduced. We can contribute to the reduction (of pollution).”
Each eLBeep unit has a 23-seating capacity each and can go 60 to 70 kilometers when fully charged. At the moment, a charging station is located downtown near the old municipal hall by the lakeside.
In the future, the units will be equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, Global Positioning System, and an automatic fare collection system, according to SNODLOB chair Danilo Lescano.
Driver, operator perks
A few years ago, most jeepney drivers and operators resisted the idea because they couldn’t afford such units like the eLBeep, which costs around P1.6 million each.
The monthly amortization concept didn’t fly with them, as it is still too expensive.
“By the time your unit wears out, you might still be paying for it,” said Mirla Domingo, 71, a small operator who owns three jeepney units with her husband Dante.
In Lipa City, Batangas, the Lipeños Multi-Cab Transport Service and Multi-Purpose Cooperative was able to implement a modernization program, converting old multicabs into e-jeepneys, said Pedro Loyzaga, the chair of the cooperative.
Driver-members get a fixed salary of around P500 per day and are provided Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig benefits. Along with operator-members, they need not worry about shelling out money for acquisition and maintenance of units, as these are shouldered by the cooperative.
Moreover, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) franchises are now consolidated into one, which is under the cooperative, according to Loyzaga.
The transport group has been implementing this system for two years now, he said, and it is helping SNODBLOB establish the same system.
He also said his group is willing to help other transport cooperatives who want to modernize their units.
corporation, which will be a big blow to the livelihood we’ve been doing for so long,” Lescano said.
Quality of life
SNOBLOB has been pushing for modernization before someone else beats them to it.
“We need to do this because if we don’t, our route might be taken over by a big
Modernization through a cooperative can potentially improve drivers’ quality of life.
“Our drivers have been driving for 20, 30 years, but they still remain drivers. Their quality of life is still the same as when they started,” said Lescano.
“With the government’s modernization program, they will have benefits, and whatever profit the cooperative makes, they will have a share,” he added.
Mang Jess still doubts this kind of system when it comes to take-home pay.
“I think P500 for an eight-hour shift is just right. But for example, if things go back to normal, drivers can earn a net daily income of at least P1,000. But if they will be given benefits like SSS, etc., that is their advantage,” he said.
The days of the kings of the road may now be numbered, and many may lament the loss of a cultural icon.
A new breed of vehicles is slowly taking their place, but eventually it will acquire the colorful soul of the traditional jeepney that has plied our streets for so long.