Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1) — Progressive group Anakbayan warned that Filipino commuters will further suffer as about 200,000 jeepney drivers and operators have lost their permits to ply routes, but a major transport group said it will continue to challenge the government’s modernization program.
“Tuluyan nang nawalan ng kabuhayan ang 200,000 tsuper at operator. Lalala naman ang transport crisis para sa mga komyuter,” Anakbayan said in a Facebook post late on Sunday.
[Translation: Around 200,000 drivers and operators lost their livelihoods. The transport crisis will worsen for commuters.]This came as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected calls to extend the Dec. 31, 2023 deadline for jeepney franchise consolidation.Early on Monday, #NoToJeepneyPhaseout and #MarcosPahirap were trending on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, as some groups and netizens expressed support for thousands of jeepney drivers and operators.The group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) said it was ready to stage a “bigger and stronger” campaign against the modernization program.Although the deadline already ended, some jeepney drivers whose franchises have not yet been consolidated continue to operate and accommodate passengers at the Parklea Terminal in Mandaluyong City and the Tipas Jeepney Terminal in Pasig. Their routes cover Pasig, Rizal, and Quiapo in Manila.While many jeepneys were not consolidated, their operators said they would continue to fight for their livelihood.“Kung dati kumakain kami ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, dalawa na lang sa ngayon. ‘Yung inuulam namin na isang kilo, siguro kalahating kilo na lang ngayon; poot, galit sa gobyerno ang nararamdaman ko dahil sa ginawa ni Bongbong Marcos na pagpatay sa aming kabuhayan,” said Rodolfo Molina, a jeepney driver and operator in Pasig City.[Translation: We used to eat three times a day, now it’s only two. We used to serve a kilo (of rice) before, but now it was reduced to maybe half a kilo. I feel hatred, anger towards the government because of what Bongbong Marcos did, killing our livelihood.]Meanwhile, some operators at the Parklea Terminal said they decided to join other cooperatives amid fears of losing their livelihood.
Transport groups have been reiterating the high costs of operating a modernized jeepney as one unit now costs at least ₱2.6 million, with the government only promising a subsidy of ₱200,000.
Pushing for this modernization may also force commuters to shell out a more expensive minimum fare of ₱25 to ₱30, according to Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena.
READ: Manibela: ₱25-₱30 jeepney fare needed to cover cost of modernization
Last week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said there would be no transportation crisis as it will release special permits for unconsolidated jeepneys. However, they can only use this until the end of January.
