No modernization, just phaseout – Piston head

George San Mateo, Piston president, discusses the jeepney modernization program in this file photo taken on Oct. 24, 2017, at the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City. INQUIRER.NET / NOY MOSCOSO

Piston leader George San Mateo disputed the government’s assertion that the jeepney modernization program was not a subtle way to phase out old jeepneys.

According to Mateo, fixing or rehabilitating old jeepneys would be useless because these would still be phased out by 2020.

“Hindi totoo na pag-aayos lang. Kahit ayusin mo yung jeep mo, pagdating ng end 2020 phaseout na yun,” he told Inquirer.net during a rally at Welcome Rotonda on Monday.

“Kahit maayos ang engine mo, hindi pa rin siya pwede pagdating ng 2020. Kung road worthy naman pala, bakit hindi na siya pwede sa 2020?” added Mateo, president of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide or Piston.

According to transport leader, a member of Piston complied with the standards that the government set for modern jeepneys. However, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) purportedly said the compliance would only be valid last until the end of 2020.

“Narehistro yung jeep niya, pero sinabi ng DOTr na hanggang end lang ng 2020 lang yung jeep niya,” Mateo said.

Under the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG), modern jeepneys were required to have Euro4, solar, or electric engines in their vehicles.

This, Mateo said, was the main problem of jeepney drivers and operators.

“Kaya kahit mag assemble ka ng bago at roadworthy pa ang jeep mo pero old Euro2 at old chasis ka pa din, di na yan papayagan na ipalit sa old mo unless yung modern jeepneys running on brand new Euro4, solar, or electric engines,” Mateo said.

“Beginning 2021, only modern jeepneys with branch new Euro4, solar, and electric engines will be allowed,” he added.

Mateo insisted that the Duterte administration discard its jeepney modernization program to make it “socially-just” for drivers, operators, and the public.

“Ang gusto naming mangyari ay i-junk ng pamahalaan ang kasalukuyang programa at magbuo ulit ng bagong programa,” Mateo asserted. “At kapag bumuo ulit ng bagong programa dapat ay tunay, genuine modernization, sustainable, mass-oriented, at higit sa lahat, socially-just at ang perspective ay patungo dapat sa mass progression.” /cbb

READ: Piston pushes for socially just jeepney modernization scheme