DOTr allays fears on immediate phase out of traditional jeepneys

(Philippine Daily Inquirer file photo/ Richard A. Reyes)

MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has allayed fears of transport workers that traditional jeepney units will be immediately phased out with the implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

The Department of Transportation said that traditional jeepneys can still operate and ferry commuters as long as they are “road worthy” and that the transition to modern jeepney units will take time. 

“Bakit kinakatakot nila na kailangan mag-operate agad ng modern jeepney? Hindi naman eh,” Bautista said in a post on social media on Saturday.

(Why are they afraid that the modern jeepneys will operate immediately? That’s not the case.)

Bautista likewise explained that rolling out modern jeepneys in lieu of traditional PUVs would take time.

But transport group Piston is skeptical of the department’s “lip service.” 

Piston’s president Mody Floranda explained that the DOTr must issue an executive order to make such claims official.

“Iyong sinasabi ni Secretary [Bautista] na hindi naman talaga totally i-wiwipe out ang ating traditional jeepney basta’t ito’y compliant, ay maglabas sila ng isang executive order para at least mayroon kaming panghahawakan,” Floranda told Inquirer.net.

(If Secretary [Bautista] is saying that they would not totally wipe out traditional jeepneys as long as they are compliant, then they should release an executive order so that our sector has something to hold on to.”

“Kung sabi lang, at wala namang dokumentong inilalabas, ano pong panghahawakan ng ating sektor?” Floranda asked on Sunday.

(If they’re just saying it but not releasing any document, then what will our sector hold on to?)

Some drivers and individual franchise holders have repeatedly expressed concern about potential job displacement following the implementation of the PUV modernization prpgram.

Earlier, Piston and another transport group, Manibela, said that replacing traditional PUVs with a reduced number of modern jeepney units might lead to some 86,000 PUV drivers losing their jobs. 

The groups added that reducing the number of PUVs plying major thoroughfares in Metro Manila will negatively impact commuters, potentially resulting in a “transport disaster.”

Based on previous statements from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board – an attached agency of the DOTr –  modern jeepney units will be fitted with more environment-friendly engines, CCTVs, and an automated fare collection system, among other upgrades.

Piston, however, reiterated that rehabilitating existing jeepney units would be much cheaper and better for transport workers instead of completely phasing them out.