Metro Manila, Philippines – Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third address to the nation, some jeepney drivers voiced their dismay over his campaign promise that no one would be left behind.
For Lito Ajeda who has been plying the Pasig-Quiapo route since 1989, his only source of income is from driving the jeepney. It helped him pay for the education of his two children, including his youngest son in 5th grade.
Lito did not consolidate his jeepney franchise citing expensive modernization and what he described as an ‘unfair’ cooperative system. The public utility vehicle modernization plan requires a fixed daily rate with social security benefits for drivers from their cooperative. While the government believes this would organize public transport, some drivers say they would eventually earn less. “Kaya hindi rin naman ako sumama sa consolidation na iyan, magkano ang ibibigay mo kaagad bente mil. Tapos magkakaroon ka ng buwan-buwan diyan. May butaw ka na. Samantalang hindi pa ako nakakabayad sa aking inutang na sasakyan. Paano mangyayayari niyan?” he said.(Translation: That’s why I didn’t consolidate my franchise. You’ll pay the cooperative by how much, 20,000. Then there would be a monthly fee. And I haven’t even paid the loan for my vehicle. What happens to me then?)Fifty-two-year-old Merlito Obedoza has been on the road for three decades, and he fears suffering the same fate. He said only big corporations would benefit from the modern system and small drivers like him would be left behind.“Kung pupunta kami sa modernization, gagawin kaming suwelduhan. Lalo kaming pinahirapan. Sinong kikita, sila? Iyong humahawak ng kooperatiba,” Merlito said.
(If we join the modernization, we will be paid monthly. It will be too heavy for us. Who will earn? Those who manage the cooperatives.)
On the average, drivers said they earn up to P2,000 daily depending on the work hours. Under a cooperative or a corporation, they claim they will only get up to P700 per day upon reaching a quota.
‘ ’10’: ‘image’: ‘jcr:d2af8989-1ad4-491c-9d5e-25afa1ad00c3’ ‘imageAltText’: ‘Jeepney drivers Merlito Obedoza (left) and Lito Ajeda (right)
‘Don’t leave us behind’
Merlito and Lito have been banned from their routes since May as their unconsolidated jeepneys are now classified as illegal. With their livelihood in limbo, both share an appeal to Marcos: Do not leave us behind. Lito said he voted for Marcos in 2022, and he hoped the president would fulfill his promise.“Sana naman pagbigyan ng pangulo, mahipo kami. Pakinggan iyong aming mga hinaing dito. Kasi ‘di ba iyong pangulo, nagsalita iyan. Bago mag-eleksyon. 100 percent kaming mga drivers sa kanya kami bumoto eh gawa niyan. Tapos ngayon, iyan ang mangyayari?” Lito said.(Translation: I hope the president will listen to our pleas. He spoke about this before the 2022 elections. One hundred percent of us drivers voted for him. But now, this is what’s happening?)“Ang panawagan kay Pangulong Marcos, huwag mo naman kaming iwanan na maliliit. ‘Di ba sinabi niya noon iyan. Walang maiiwan. Bakit ngayon parang kaming gustong alisan ng hanapbuhay?” said Merlito. (Translation: My appeal to President Marcos, don’t leave the small drivers behind. He said it before, right? That no one will be left behind. Why does it look like he’s denying us our livelihood?)In March 2023, Marcos vowed to review the modernization plan, saying he wanted to make sure no one becomes jobless because of the policy. The president extended the consolidation deadline twice. In April 2024, Marcos put his foot down – no more extension.
Where to go now?
Lito and Merlito seemed resigned to their fate with the transport modernization facing them.
“Ang plano ko ay wala akong plano. Mawawala talaga ang hanapbuhay namin kung hindi nila mababago iyan, kung hindi maibibigay ng pangulo iyong aming hinihingi na ibalik sa’min yung aming prangkisa,” he told NewsWatch Plus. (Translation: I have no plan. I’d really lose my livelihood if the policy remains unchanged, and if the president won’t be able to return our franchises.) While government-sponsored livelihood programs are available for unconsolidated drivers, the elderly like Lito worry their age can no longer take these jobs. “Nagsubok nga ako mag-construction, hindi ko kaya…kasi hindi na kaya ng katawan. Ilang taon na, 54 na ako,” he said. (I once tried construction work but I couldn’t do it. My body couldn’t take it anymore. I’m already 54.)The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said PUV drivers may avail of skills and entrepreneurship training offered by government agencies for alternative income sources. For Merlito, he plans to use his unit for other means to earn. “Panghakot na lang siguro ng gulay sa probinsya. Iyon na lang ang naisip kong paraan,” he told NewsWatch Plus.(I’ll just use it to transport vegetables in the province. That’s the only way I can think of now.)
End of the road?
While it seems the road ends for unconsolidated drivers, some cling on to their one last lifeline: a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court on the modernization program.
On May 14, the Supreme Court ordered the DoTR and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board to respond to the petition of some transport groups, seeking a stay order on PUV modernization.
