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[av_heading heading=’Coalition holds caravan vs jeepney phaseout ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Monday, December 4, 2017
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ILOILO City – The No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition in Panay Island is holding a protest caravan today.
The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston), coalition leader, scrapped its planned Dec. 4-5 transport strike in Metro Manila but the protest is taking on a different form in Panay.
“Kami wala nagakataka sa pagkampanya batok sining jeepney phaseout,” said Piston-Panay president Edgar Salarda.
The caravan starts at 8 a.m. at the transport terminal in Barangay Mohon, Arevalo district. Participants will take the following route: Avanceña Street – Molo district plaza – Barangay Tabucan, Mandurriao – Mandurriao plaza – Guzman Street – Barangay Hibao-an – C1 Road – Ungka terminal – Lopez Jaena Street – Jaro plaza – Tagbak terminal and back to Jaro plaza.
Under the government’s jeepney modernization program, jeepneys 15 years old and older will be phased out starting January next year.
In Panay Island, 12,234 jeepneys face phasing out.
“Indi lang ‘ni issue sang drivers kag operators kundi issue ini sang mga pumoluyo nga maapektuhan in case mapatuman ang modernization,” said Salarda.
Early this year ahead of their counterparts in other regions, Western Visayas transport groups staged two strikes – in Feb. 27 and June 5 and 6.
The jeepney started as remodeled army vehicles left behind by US forces after World War II, and became a showcase of Filipino ingenuity and resourcefulness. Mainly patronized by low- to middle-income passengers, it has become the core of Philippine public transport.
According to Salarda, the phaseout would displace jeepney drivers and operators, and their families economically.
Under the transport modernization plan, jeepney operators will reportedly have to buy brand new units only from manufacturers accredited by the Land Transportation Office.
“This arrangement smacks of opportunism and greed in the guise of transport modernization. The plan is clearly about making money,” said Salarda.
If Piston-Panay were to be believed, jeepney drivers and operators will also be required to use an “automatic fare collection system” and expensive Global Positioning System.
“Over half of passenger jeepneys will disappear from the roads if this plan pushes through,” warned Salarda.
If the government really wanted to reduce air pollution and improve transport safety, said Salarda, there is an alternative to phasing out old jeepneys – requiring operators to overhaul their engines and closely monitor if this is being complied.
Even jeepney mechanics will be dislocated by the phaseout, said Salarda./PN
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