31/12/2023
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At this hour, most of us are probably counting down to the upcoming new year. However, for our toiling masses, especially for our jeepney drivers, the countdown to losing their livelihood is also just a few hours away.
It was in 2017 when the government pushed for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), a program that aims to improve efficient and environmentally friendly transportation systems in the country. The initial plan was to upgrade the traditional jeepney to a modernized jeepney.
Who would not want a better transport system for the country, right?
The issue here is not really about the modernization of jeepneys, it is about the peopleβs livelihoods being killed because of this program that is not only anti-poor and anti-people but also unscientific. The average annual income of our jeepney drivers would range up to Php 255,000. Even if this program has been announced for more than 5 years already, our Jeepney drivers cannot still afford to purchase the modernized Jeepney that would cost P1.5 million to P2.5 million, with electric versions costing around P3 million each.
The government said they will provide a maximum of Php 300,000 subsidy for the purchase of the modernized Jeepney. However, it is vividly clear that this subsidy is not enough. Every day, our Jeepney drivers have mouths to feed, children to send to school, and even daily maintenance for sick members of the family. The subsidy and annual income they earn would not suffice.
Beyond the concerns for jeepney drivers, this program also places an additional burden on commuters. Students, workers, and regular travelers are bracing themselves for potential fare hikes. The previous doubling of the minimum fare from Php 7 to Php 12 during the pandemic was already challenging. An anticipated increase to Php 20-Php 30, driven by the need for drivers to recoup losses, will inevitably have a detrimental impact on everyone.
Therefore, the Cebu Federation of Journalism and Communication Students vehemently opposes the Jeepney modernization program as currently proposed, spanning both the Duterte and Marcos administrations. We call for a modernization initiative that is grounded in principles that are nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented; not a modernization program that advances blindly, and disregards the deeper concerns of transport workers and commuters.
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