Ranticism

PUV Modernization Program

PUV Modernization Program

2024 has been... chaotic. Too chaotic that the first week was like getting slapped by a brick in the face, without any warning at all. A lot has happened, a lot has been opened up and put into discourse but there is yet to be a middle ground for all. Aside from the failed governing of a certain someone, things have been trying to get by on its own.

The most controversial of all was the PUV Modernization Program. Many have aired their grievances towards the government project: posting on social medias on how trash the project is, or that there might be better alternatives than having jeepneys completely removed; at the same time, many have vocalised their support towards the project, saying that it is about time that we move to the modern one and it is about time that we change things up. Nevertheless, the whole interaction itself was chaotic. Not even an intervention or a clear and complete explanation was given to inform the mass.

It might have been beneficial to all if the PUV Modernization Program was explained in a clear manner: providing its objectives, how it arrived at such decisions and what are the possible leeway for the affected stakeholders to take so that they can shoulder such drastic change. Unfortunately, no such thing was given to the public, just the announcement that there will be a change in the transportation and the jeepney that we were used to will be removed from the picture. Adding to it, the people who had the privilege or opportunity to be knowledgeable about the nuances of the PUV Modernization Program, did not even consider to explain it to others, so that maybe they can create a contributable comment to the already chaotic scene. In this way, we might clear things up, and make sure that everyone is seeing eye to eye.

Luckily, I am one of those privileged people who got the opportunity to be fully informed about the subject. But unlike the others, I have tried my best to inform as many people as possible about the real situations and rationales behind the PUV Modernization Program Project. Turns out, there is a lot that went into this project before coming to this kind of end.

The PUV Modernization Program has been planned since 2017. How did the government arrive at such a decision? No one has yet to know but the government itself. What is apparent though, is that the government has been planning for the modernisation of the jeepneys from that year since. There was the acquisition of the e-jeeps, the parts of it and its initial deployment to the public. Many, myself included, liked the e-jeep due to its air conditioning, comfortable seating and efficient way of getting in and out of the vehicle.

After this, the e-jeeps have been slowly integrated towards the transportation options of the commuters. It cannot be denied that it competed with the daily profits of jeepney drivers, but one cannot also deny its popularity.

To think that the PUV Modernization Program is merely based on the popularity of the e-jeep, then it is shallow thinking. Intricate layers have become the foundation of the project, and it is only vital that it be mentioned here. After all, I want to inform the people.

To put background: the program was to make changes for the public transportation of the Philippines that adheres to the global standards. In their own words, "to make it humane, dignified and on par with the global standards". But why the phaseout? The phaseout was to change the old jeepneys which are at their limit and are no longer compatible for transportation no matter the refurbishing or rebuilding. This is to ensure that they are environmentally friendly and do not become a problem to the jeepney drivers and the commuters. However, the jeepney drivers are resisting. Not only because of the high priced new e-jeep— which costs 3 million pesos— but also because they are the one to shoulder the cost and all by having bank loans and and all. That is a heavy burden for an average earning person.

First and foremost was the environmental aspect. The primary concern is how the ordinary jeepney can damage the environment with the smoke it emits, especially the jeepneys using older versions of engines which emit black smoke— it is detrimental to the environment but also to the people. The government wanted to solve this problem and to also better the living conditions of the people, after all, a poor environment is a poor living conditions. The government saw the e-jeep as an opportunity to reduce the environmental damage or, in other words, reverse uno it. It is a plausible solution, especially with the environment lens in consideration.

Second is to have order among them. Jeepney drivers do not have any formal cooperative, company or association they are related or a member to; a JODA may be considered as an association but it is not formally recognized. The government saw how a lot of jeepney drivers were competing to earn profit in most of the locations (i.e.: Malolos, Hagonoy, etc.) where most of the jeepney drivers were trying their best to get the most passengers. The government wanted to fix this, to make it orderly. The plan was to have the jeepney driver be joined in cooperatives or companies that will assign them their routes. This will prevent an over congestion of jeepney drivers in one area and make sure that every route is adequately supplied with transportation.

Thirdly is in concern with finances, both for the jeepney drivers and the government. To put in context: jeepney drivers have no fixed salaries, they are dependent on how much they earn on a daily basis— this is applicable to those who privately own a jeepney and those who are in the 'boundary system'. Both were harmful to them as most of the time, their earnings are inadequate for their everyday living, even for their families. The government wanted to solve this by having them join a cooperative through consolidation and become legally recognized. This will be an assurance that they will have a fixed salary that can support them and their family, no longer needing to be dependent on how much they earn and fear it is not enough to sustain their everyday living. Furthermore, in the context of the jeepney drivers, the more of them join in a single cooperative, the lower the price they need to shoulder, but they will shoulder an amount nonetheless which is still burdensome for them.

Those are the primary reasons that support the reason for the PUV Modernization Program. The others are more intricate and complex that it is a headache to explain.

Throughout the social media, many have aired their version of solutions such as: provide better engine for the jeepneys, or that the government shoulder most of the amount for the 3 million new e-jeeps, some also suggested that the payment for the new e-jeeps have a longer span rather than have it fully paid in 7 years only by the drivers.

Yes, this author sees the good for the program, but this author also is against how the government implemented such.

It is as it was always said: the intention of the government is good, but the implementation is bad.