By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas

Two days PISTON strikes, two days government workers and all-schools holidays. It was all about the group’s effort to protest against the PUJ modernization program where all 15 years old public utility jeepneys will be phased out to be replaced with brand new units.
On the second day of the holidays, the President went on TV denouncing the PISTON group of jeepney drivers. He called them a communist front and said that by January if those jeepneys are still on the road, “guguyurin ko kayo!” He went on to say that those jeepneys have to be taken out of the road because “buga sila ng buga ng pollution” and are killing the people who can’t afford air-conditioned cars. That was OK. But then in another byte, he was shown saying something to the effect that “guguyurin ko kayo” . . . “wala akong pakialam kung gugutumin kayo.” I hope I got that right but am sure that what he said was to that effect.
Thereafter, Gabriela and PISTON members went on TV saying that the President showed his true colors. That he was not pro-poor.
The foregoing are all emotion laden. So let’s try to be a bit objective.
All over this country, the jeepneys, by and large, are badly in need of change. For here are some observations of mine. They are heavily polluting the environment, most of them are dilapidated—as dilapidated can be; and are on the road after many decades and many times I get the thought that as if there is no government to take care of the welfare of the riding public. Many of them are rusty, with seat upholstery torn, or seats literally broken, with all sorts of sound (kalampag) or rattles which make so many passengers doubt their road worthiness. And they are built heavy making their engines work hard and belching toxic black smoke.
So here’s the government plan. To force jeepney operators to buy new units and junk those old clunkers. There will be some government subsidy and the rest will be paid on installments for a number of years. There are several designs of the brand new units. Some are like mini-buses which will have standing areas. So more passengers would be accommodated. Some would be air-conditioned, and they generally look better.
But there is a catch. I am one of those doubting Thomases when it comes to government programs. The first question that arises: Is this one of those plans which some high ranking government officers hatched so they could make a lot of easy money in the form of commissions? Can the government really deliver high quality units that will once and for all solve our pollution problems in the streets all over these islands? Will the plan help ease out our traffic woes?
Then there was a proposal of one of the officials of PISTON which is to order the restoration to almost brand new condition of the jeepneys including the changing of their engines so they would not be polluters. In theory, this would be possible and might even be practical. There will also be a lot of jobs for auto repair shops, welders, mechanics, electricians, painters, “lateros” (tinsmiths or body builders), upholsterers, etc.
In reality, however, this might be almost impossible.
Firstly, to restore a vehicle to almost brand new condition might cost the same as a brand new unit. In some instances it would even cost more.
Secondly, it will take a long time to restore a vehicle. It can take months or even years especially if the owner does not have enough cash. On the other hand, a brand new unit can be paid on installments.
Thirdly, while waiting for all those jeepneys to be fixed or restored, where will the public ride to go to work and to school?
Lastly, if a new administration will come in and the refurbishing of the jeepneys are not finished, the new powers-that-be might not have the political will to end the evils of, and the suffering being foisted on us by, those old jeepney units.
Yes, I am for modernization but it should cover vans and buses and other transportation modes such as the floating coffins in the high seas.
And the financing scheme for the acquisition of brand new units should not unduly burden, financially, the operators.
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