The government is still firm with its year-end deadline for jeepney drivers to consolidate into a cooperative or corporation despite several transport strikes by jeepney drivers under PISTON, Manibela, and other groups.
With only about a week before the year ends, many jeepney drivers and operators with their families are headed for the rocks if the consolidation and Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) pushes through.
‘Kwentong Tsuper’ on Jeepney Modernization
“Wag nang ipatupad yung phaseout kasi maraming umaasa sa jeep na hanapbuhay. Naawa ako sa mga driver pag ayan ay napatupad, para kang kinadena, arawan ka nalang,” driver “Sonny” said on working as a driver for corporations.
“Sa limang daan (na sahod) ba sapat ba yon? Parang kahit sa binata hindi e. Pag edad mo pa di ka na kukunin kasi may edad ka na. Sa amin pag sapat na kinita mo pwede ka na gumarahe, pag masakit katawan mo pwede ka umuwi, di mo obligasyon anong sasabihin sayo ng isang kumpanya,” he added.
For “Nemi,” “yung mga jeep naman naming maayos eh bakit kailangan (palitan) diba? Okay lang yung mga bulok, pero yung mga maaayos naman bakit kailangan pa natin alisin?”
This was also the sentiment of “Jaime.” “Yung mga luma ipagawa, yung mga nausok ipagawa, yung mga luma irenovate, kung di na kaya irenovate, (saka) itapon na” he said.
‘Kwentong Tsuper’ on Dark Times
As if the threat of losing their livelihoods and source of income is not enough, jeepney drivers are really in dark times as they also struggle to make a living out of soaring prices.
“Sa totoo lang mas malaki pa yung kinukrudo namin kaysa sa inuuwi namin, ang minimum na krudo namin dito pag malakas ang biyahe P1,200. Magkano lang uuwi namin don P700 o P800 e sa anim ko ba namang anak magkakasya ba yon? Magkano bigas ngayon at ulam?” Sonny said.
Renald, however, shared an even lower income.
“Noong nag P73 (ang krudo), pinakamalinis na (kita) don P300 o P400. Karaniwan nung di nagtataas krudo P900 e ngayon wala na, pinakamalinis na P400 P500.”
“Nakaranas ako mahina na biyahe may aberya pa gaya ng maflatan ka, e magkano na vulcanize, nasa 100 na, edi imbes na maiuwi isang daan nakonsumo pa,” Renald shared.
“Surviving lang, hindi yung sasabihin mong aangat ka. Mahihirapan ka. Talagang sagad sa hirap ang gagawin mo. Ang kapalit (naman) non pag sagad sa hirap ka magkakasakit ka naman, mahal din ang pagpapagamot,” Padjo expressed.
“Nakaranas ako mahina na biyahe may aberya pa gaya ng maflatan ka, e magkano na vulcanize, nasa 100 na, edi imbes na maiuwi isang daan nakonsumo pa,” Renald added.
Jeepneys are like their drivers
After the Second World War, American military jeepneys were left on the streets, recovering Filipinos turned these into the jeepneys we now see today and were used for public transport and of course, as source of income.
Like its history, its drivers are also resilient, resourceful, and persevering.
“Ang mga anak ko Grade 8 at Grade 5. Matagal tagal pa yon. Tiyagain mo nalang talaga, ganyan ang Pilipino e magaling sa tiyaga, unti-unti,” Padjo said.
As for Renald, “Kagaya nyan may grade 11 (ako), pag nagkolehiyo mas mabigat, kailangan wala ka nang palya sa biyahe.”
Meanwhile for Sonny, out of his six children, three are already graduates.
“Isa marketing, pangalawa IT, pangatlo education, sa pagmamaneho lang yon. First trip at last trip kinakana ko. Tulog ko tatlong oras lang isang gabi, hindi na nga ko naginom para sa pamilya ko, sigarilyo na lang.”
Asked how proud he is of this achievement, Sonny said “Talagang pagmamalaki ko biruin mo tatlong anak ko na yon, sa ngayon di na ko kumakana ng first trip last trip, kaya ko na gumarahe ng alas-singko, alas-sais.”
“Nakakatulong na, Nakakapagbigay sa misis ko ng P16,000. Ngayon bunso ko Grade 11 na, konting kembot na lang,” Sonny expressed with optimism.