WHAT NOW?

What will become of us now?

That was the question transport drivers, operators and commuters in Laguna province alike as the dreaded end of the “grace period” for unconsolidated public utility vehicle franchises looms.

Even more so as statistics provided by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) basically confirmed what some transport groups have insisted: that many drivers and operators in the province are still not ready for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUV).

Unconsolidated franchises

Data provided by the LTFRB Calabarzon regional office to OpinYon Laguna showed that 169 cooperatives and corporations composed of 7,705 traditional jeepneys were able to consolidate their franchises before the December 31, 2023 deadline imposed by the national government.

This leaves 1,923 traditional jeepneys out of commission, which means that they will be considered “colorum” by the LTFRB after January 31.

However, thousands more of these “consolidated” franchises could still lose their validity after 27 months if their cooperatives or corporations fail to modernize their units.

And this is where the issue of costs for PUV modernization comes into light.

With the two years and 3 months given to drivers and operators to buy modern ones, the estimated P2-million price tag is still out of reach for them.

“Sa edad kong to, 63 na ko, ako pa ba kukuha pa ng ganon? Syempre kukuha nalang ako ng (ibang) hanapbuhay ko dyan kung anong kaya ko. Kasi sa laki ng halaga, di kakayanin kahit pa operator na may kaya sa buhay hindi na kukuha non,” “Kuya Fermin,” a jeepney driver, told OpinYon Laguna.

Like what other jeepney drivers have told OpinYon Laguna last March, many of them are still not too keen on purchasing modern PUVs.

And so far, no one from the government has coordinated with them on what to do next after consolidating.

“Hindi kami tututol sa kagustuhan nilang magkaroon ng modern pero tignan muna nila, i-survey muna nila ang biyahe namin kung kaya namin magbayad, kung di namin kaya ang magsho-shoulder dapat gobyerno, sila ang namilit e,” “Kuya Jerry” complained.

According to the same data provided by the LTFRB, less than a hundred – 92 to be exact – modern PUVs ply the streets of Laguna province as of December 31, 2023.

Local and affordable

Recently, several jeepney manufacturers in the Philippines have offered “more affordable” modern jeepney units than the ones allegedly being pushed under the PUVMP.

Francisco Motors, for instance, has unveiled new models that complies with PUVMP standards without removing its iconic trademark at a much affordable price of P985,000.

“Ang kakayanin namin na modern jeep yung sa francisco kasi mas mura yon. Hindi naman dapat yung P2 milyon na pinagduduldulan nilang galing china na disposable ang makina,” Kuya Jerry expressed.

“Ang ipatronize sana itong local manufacturer, nagpakahirap si Sarao, si Francisco, ayan Pinoy yan pagkatapos itong China na inaagaw ang West Philippine Sea ayun ang tatangkilikin,” he added.

Government for whom?

With less PUVs traversing the roads, and less traditional jeepneys offering quick and cheap transportation, corporations know it is time for them to boost modern jeepneys and vehicles for profit.

“As it is, Manny Pangilinan-backed modern PUJ operator Byahe will be investing more than Php1.5 billion on more than 500 e-vehicles to ply 35 routes mostly in Metro Manila and Cebu by 2027. The Aranetas through their Beep Jeeps and the Villars through their MetroExpress Connect also have investments in modern jeepneys,” IBON Foundation said.

“Sila ang magiging hari, sila ang magpapasasa di naman kami dahil swelduhan na lang driver,” Alex said.

“Swelduhan sa modern jeep (nasa) 500 isang araw, dito kumikita kami ng sabihin natin 800. Yung 500 kakasya bang mapag-aral ng kolehiyo?

Naiisip ba nila yon? Akala ko ba matatalino sila?” he asked.

“Tignan kasi nila yung bright side saka dark side, ang nakikita lang kasi nila pera. ‘Anong pake ko kung maghirap sila, basta kikita ako’,” Alex said sarcastically.

“Pano kami mabubuhay sa sistema nila? Dapat dyan pukpukin sila sa ulo, magpalit kami ng posisyon, sila maging driver sabihin namin sa kanila ‘magpalit kayo ng modern’. Pano ka ngayon? Iiyak ka ngayon?,” Severino said.

“Lalo nila pinapahirap buhay ng mahirap, sila iniintindi lang nila kikitain nila di nila iniisip kung anong mangyayari sa mga tao, gugutumin ang tao, ang daming di mapapag-aral na mga bata sa gagawin nila na yan,” Fermin added.

Drivers’ concerns

“Ang nakakatakot pa don hindi naman magiging amin yung jeep. Pangalawa, anong posibilidad na after five to ten years hindi na naman kukuha ng bago? Ibig sabihin kakatapos mo lang magbayad ng utang, uutang ka na naman,” some of the drivers pointed out.

Some drivers interviewed by OpinYon Laguna said that the oldest modern jeeps in their terminal are only about 3 years old yet look older than traditional ones and some even release black smoke.

But a driver under a corporation instead of a cooperative shared that under their corporate system, drivers can own their modern vehicles once fully paid.

“Korporasyon kami hindi kooperatiba, sa amin pag nabayaran mo yung unit sayo na, di tulad sa kooperatiba pag-aari ng kooperatiba unit mo, kahit tapos ka na maghulog kanila pa rin,” Andy said.

“Alam mo yung kasabihan na masaya yung bumili masaya rin yung nabilhan. Hindi yung isang way ka lang na bahala na suntok sa buwan kung makakahulog ba, bahala na sila sa buhay nila.”

It should be noted that based on the interview, drivers do not see even one benefit of modernization on their part, and the government’s callous treatment of them just adds insult to injury.

As Alex said, “Problema, yung mayaman na naman ang panalo. Si Juan Dela Cruz pa rin ang talo.”

(With report by Jai Duena)

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