Once, they were immortalized in the popular ditty, “Manila, Manila.” And who could forget the iconic lines composed by the legendary Hotdog band, “Mga jeepney mong nagliliparan, mga babae mong naggagandahan…,” sang by both the “masa” and the elite; the young and the old. It’s the most beloved song, which makes every Filipino abroad feel homesick every time he or she hears it on the airwaves. Passenger jeepneys are the cheapest form of public transportation available to ordinary commuters. It’s only recently that the transport authorities have increased their minimum fare by P1 due to the dramatic surge of the price of diesel. Still, jeepneys remain the most affordable means of public transport compared to buses, taxis, MRT/LRT, or even tricycles. But it seems that the jeepneys’ popularity and dominance among our public commuters are under serious threat.
Recent report shows that more than 5,000 public utility vehicles (passenger jeepneys) did not renew their franchise. The high cost of fuel, particularly diesel that runs the jeepneys, has driven jeepney operators out of business. Add to this the maintenance expense of their units, which compounded their woes. It cannot be denied that the surging fuel cost is the main culprit. Earlier, travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic had initially caused severe loss of income to the jeepney drivers. During the prolonged lockdown that kept people away from schools and offices, jeepney drivers got whatever job was available for as long as it could bring food on the table. However, work opportunities are scarce and most of them could not find any odd jobs. Many businesses were shuttered and even small and medium enterprises, which could hire extra hands like the displaced drivers, closed shop. Many jeepney drivers were forced to beg for help from people on the streets. They became fixtures in every community food pantry and charity programs that mushroomed during the height of the pandemic. But now, food aids are drying up as donor fatigue has set in. They could not pay their rent, settle utility bills and meet other obligations. Even if they continue to drive their jeepneys, the cost of fuel eats a big chunk of their income and they could hardly meet their boundary fee. And for the longest time during higher Covid-19 alert levels, they could only take a limited number of passengers. Now that we are virtually back to normal, they are lucky if they net a take-home income of P200 a day—just barely enough to buy food for a family of five. Study shows that on the average, jeepney drivers spend P540 on diesel per day. Their daily gross income is P1,200. After deducting the boundary fee of P500, the net take home earning is P160. A jeepney driver works an average of 10 to 12 hours a day to cover their expenses and boundary fee, and earn extra for his own needs. No wonder, some families used the jeepneys as their dwelling for the night since they cannot afford to rent even a cramped space. Their pleas for government assistance have fallen on deaf ears. No one from the government seems to support the idea of suspending, if not removing, the excise tax on fuel to lower its cost even temporarily. The promised financial assistance to drivers is delayed and, if given, is hardly sufficient.
It’s not just the pandemic and its impact on the livelihood of jeepney drivers and operators that set back the jeepney industry. The so-called route rationalization being practiced by the LTFRB, which gives priority and profitable routes to high-capacity buses over smaller jeepneys that can only carry fewer passengers, contributes to the problems of the jeepney drivers and operators. It seems that jeepneys are discriminated against in favor of the buses and the modern jeepneys. Under the modernization program, new jeeps will run on modified routes that give them faster, more accessible and predictable travel time. This definitely places the old jeepneys at a disadvantage.
The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program was launched in 2017 by the Department of Transportation. Its goal is to make our public transportation system efficient and environmentally friendly. The long-term target of transport modernization is to eventually phase out and replace all PUVs that are 15 years old or older. A very desirable goal if only the ordinary jeepney or operators can afford the high cost of modernization. Its model unit cost is about P1.6 million-P1.8 million, which is beyond the reach of most drivers and operators. Despite the package of loan facilities and financial assistance extended by the government, the intended beneficiaries still find it unaffordable. On the other hand, there is a real threat that the old jeepney drivers and operators will be out of business if they don’t participate.
While the passenger jeepneys remain the most accessible and cheapest means of public transportation, time and circumstance have rendered them anachronistic. Given the growing demand for a clean environment and the increasing concern for climate change, the old jeepneys are on the wrong side of the controversy. Jeepneys are major polluters of our environment. They emit dark smoke, which is hazardous to health. Their crowded seating makes the cramped passengers highly vulnerable to infection and contamination. The big number of jeepneys plying the roads worsens traffic and causes street accidents. If modern jeepneys that sit comfortably more passengers and other modes of public transport can be made more accessible and affordable, it will not be remote that public commuters would prefer them over the “flying” jeepneys.
Will the jeepneys follow the way of the once mighty horse-drawn “calesa” that ruled our streets before and after the war? Now you could hardly find a “calesa” except in Intramuros to cater to tourists who want a slow ride to enjoy the sights inside the Walled City. If and when that happens, the Hotdog fans may continue to belt out the song and pine for the “flying” old jeepney, but they may find it difficult to get the old, reliable jeepney plying the streets for a ride. And that will be sad because a jeepney is inherently Filipino. It’s a testament of Pinoys’ creativity. Very colorful, convenient and accessible in every street corner. It has become a cultural symbol of our country. Many international fairs have featured a jeepney as their main exhibit. It also represents the resilience, hard work and industry of OFWs. It’s not uncommon to see painted on the jeepney the proud words: “Katas ng Saudi.” Soon, the jeepneys will no longer be the investment of choice of our OFWs. Their number will dwindle until they completely disappear from our roads, which they once dominated and ruled.