Why are the jeepney operators and driver organizations opposing the government’s move to modernize their decade-old fleet? These jeepneys are a throwback to the US army vehicles left behind in the country after its liberation from the Japanese occupying forces. Most of them are dilapidated and running on the sheer ingenuity of Filipino mechanics who replaced their engines and other parts pulled out from other Japanese and Korean cars.
George Mateo, the national president of Piston, the jeepney drivers association which led a nationwide strike, said the government plan to replace their old vehicles with new ones through loan financing is too expensive and cannot be afforded by their ranks.
“If the government push through with its plan, the drivers will be indebted for years,” said San Mateo. He asked why the government cannot set up a vehicle and parts manufacturing plant to lower the cost of new vehicles. San Mateo said the base fare increase in jeepney fares from P2 is not the solution. Commuters, he said, are already complaining against the fare hike amid the rising cost of other essential commodities like food, medicines and the constant increase in electricity rate.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, however, said that the Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines and other driver and owner groups are asking the P2 fare hike despite the P1 increase approved by the LTFRB seven months ago.
I do not ride jeepneys anymore so no one can accuse me of taking sides on this gut-wrenching issue. Don’t call me an elitist who looks down on people taking jeepneys to commute. I stopped driving and sold my car when I retired five years ago. But I have taken jeepneys during my student days and when I started on my first job.
The government plan to modernize and replace the jeepney is meant to give the riding public a cleaner and more efficient public transport system. If that is the long-range government plan, no one can argue against it.
But if so why doesn’t the government start with modernizing and upgrading the public railway mass transport system? Official malfeasance is often paved with good intentions. The Land Transportation Office contracted a Dutch company for the manufacture of vehicle license plates when it could have been done locally. The Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit’s daily breakdown is testament to government ineptitude going all the way back to the administration of former President Joseph Estrada—now Manila mayor.
Rebuilding Marawi from the ruins
The government announced that the rebuilding of Marawi will soon start even as military clearing operations against remnants of the Maute/ISIS terrorist band are still going on.
Rebuilding Marawi, according to President Duterte, would cost at least P50 billion. If so, it has enough funds for the awesome task of rebuilding which government can source from the P40-billion tax settlement from Mighty Cigarettes Corp. and the P6.3 billion in arrears paid by national flag carrier Philippine Airlines. That’s P46.3 billion in available cash. The President can throw in some of his discretionary funds to complete the P50 billion he said is required to reconstruct Marawi.
Erick San Juan writes 30
I would like to pay tribute and pray for the repose of newsman Erick San Juan’s soul who passed away last week at the age of 65. Erick is a well-known personality who made the rounds of nearly every news forum media gathering in the Metro area.
Erick San Juan has written several books on past and current political issues that may have stoke the sensitivity of certain people. But he had an insight into these issues which made his books noteworthy.
Above all, Erick despite his tough-guy demeanor, was a kind, generous man particularly to his colleagues in media. I recall an instance when I had merely asked where I might be able to buy a desktop monitor that is not so expensive. Without saying anything Erick the next day gave for free a slightly used desktop screen which he said he could spare. That was how kind Erick was, friend and colleague and fellow member of the 45-year-old 365 Club.
Rest in peace, Erick.