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Friday, March 29, 2024

Brats

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Public transportation is not just a business venture or a source of livelihood. It is imbued with public service because it enables Filipinos who do not have their own vehicles or have the means to pay for more expedient rides to get from one place to another.

Thus, those who make a living out of public utility vehicles must acknowledge that they have a responsibility to the general population they serve.

It is their duty to ensure that the vehicles plying roads are always in good condition, are safe to board and pose no danger to passengers, pedestrians or other vehicles.

They should also prevent their vehicles from spewing polluted substances into the air. They must follow existing laws protecting the quality of air, for the sake of the environment and of people’s health.

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They should then not begrudge the government the right to impose regulations on the safety and quality of public vehicles so long as proposed changes are communicated within reasonable time and options to ensure compliance are made available to them.

Finally, they should not inconvenience the public they claim to serve—as though they were brats who throw tantrums just because they don’t get what they want.

Monday’s strike by operators and drivers of public utility jeepneys reeks of this irresponsible, inconsiderate behavior. Thousands of workers found themselves having difficulty getting to work. Precious school hours were lost as classes had earlier been suspended. Other unscrupulous, enterprising transport providers took advantage of the situation by charging higher fees.

Worse, there were reports that organizations tried to extort from drivers who expressed desire to ply their routes anyway for fear of foregoing their daily income.

The protesting operators and drivers certainly made their voices heard—but not in the way they envisioned. They only showed their lack of long-range planning and, more importantly, their lack of consideration for the people they say they serve.

Why resist upgrading the way they do business especially since help should be available anyway? They are not being summarily driven out of business. They are just being asked to improve their trade for the common good.

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