Karatig Jeepney: Imperiling curb of Malolos Jeepney’s drive

Emmanuel Raymond Ferrer, Maricris Guerrero, Gijo Valmadrid

Rain or shine, Pekto San Diego who drives a karatig jeepney for almost 25 years will pass the Spanish architectural design of the narrow streets of Malolos four times a week just to earn money.

In the morning, he will start gambling on the road, trying to survive the heat and endure the cold trying to earn higher than 350 pesos to surpass the boundary needed for the day. As the karatig gets longer in size, the boundary for the vehicle gets higher too. With the jeepney, the distance from Lugam to these places does not require too much when it comes to fare rates; 8 pesos a ride, which would have cost at least 20 pesos on tricycle.

In his 25 years of driving, he raised his two children, trying his best to support their studies and their everyday needs. His oldest child helps him to support the studies of his younger children.

“Naku, kung tutuusin mo e, kami hindi nga kami makaahon e. P350, minsan tatlong daan [ang kita]... e mayroon akong dalawang batang nag-aaral tapos kaming dalawang mag-asawa, tapos ‘yong isang anak ko. Kaya ayon, minsan sumapat, minsan wala. Nagpapabaon kasi.” Mang Pekto confessed.

But Mang Pekto and his fellow drivers might have no other choice but to drive a new public utility vehicle than what they have always been used to.

Last June 19, 2017 in Camp Aguinaldo, Department of Transportation (DOTr) unveiled their modernization project for the jeepneys which will be called “Eco Philippine Utility Vehicle” that aims for safe and comfortable transport, disciplined and competent drivers and lastly, for fair regulations.

To help drivers through the transition, the DOTr has partnered with the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines to provide money worth P80,000 for operators who cannot afford the modernized jeepneys. Loans under this program has 6-percent interest and is payable within seven years.

Now, the fear of the upcoming implementation of jeepney modernization is in his head at the age of 68. He is worried that no one will ever hire him as a driver because he is already a senior citizen, as DOTr released that the salary for all jeepney drivers will be standardized to prevent unruly actions as a result of competing for passengers.

Due to this fear, he expects that as this programs starts, he will also start losing his 25-year job, which supported his family for a long time.

“E wala na e, ‘di ko kakayanin ‘pag ganon. Kasi dito isipin mo, ngayon tumaas ang korudo ngayon, ‘pag maghapon ka rito P500 [ang bayad sa gasoline] e. Tapos lalabas pa ‘yong P350 pang-boundary, edi P850. Kaya hindi kakayanin, hindi kakayanin,” Mang Pekto confessed.

Mang Pekto is just one of almost four thousand karatig jeepney drivers in Malolos who worry about the future of their livelihood.

His main concern is the operators will be forced into debt in purchasing the new units, which will be environmental and commuter-friendly transportation but will cost up to P1.6 million each.

Meanwhile, Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad expressed his fear that this modernization will become a monopoly business in the city because only rich citizen can afford these new jeepneys,

“Bukas makalawa ‘yan, mark my word, ang may-ari ng mga jeep na ‘yan ay puro mayor na. O kung hindi man, kasosyo na ng mga mayor yan. Kasi bakit? Ang pupwede lang mag-issue ng prangkisa e mayor.”

Mayor Natividad, as the one who leads the prevention of extinction of karatig in the city, said that it is hard on his part to issue jeepney franchises in the future while the karatig jeepney drivers cry to him for help.

“May personal request ako sa Department of Transportation na sana bigyan ng exemption ‘to, kasi ano to e… this is heritage na ng city of Malolos and Malolos is very important din naman sa history ng Pilipinas. It’s publicly known naman kung gaano [kahalaga] ang Malolos in the field of democracy ng Pilipinas so baka naman… I don’t know kung mabigyan tayo ng ganoong uri ng treatment,” Mayor Christian added.

Are the people in Malolos ready to say goodbye to the karatig jeepneys?

The upcoming modernization is just a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Phasing-out all the old jeepneys, no matter what the model and design is, is a pain for the drivers and commuters alike.

DOTr revealed that the modernized Pinoy jeepneys would be having two types; the Electric Jeeps, and Euro-4 powered vehicles instead of the old Euro-2 engines that the current models have today. The new jeepney model that would replace the old ones will require an eco-diesel to minimize the pollution it contributes in the air, which will comply to the Clean Air Act.

In the span of three years, starting this year, the government plans to release around 200,000 to 250,000 units of these new jeepneys around the country.

With their 16-billion-peso budget in this program, the government will buy the jeepneys from the drivers or operators for 30,000 pesos, which will serve as salvage fee and the jeepney will later be scrapped.

But the heaviness of 1.6 million will be shouldered by the drivers for them to pay within seven years for the loan, with six percent of interest rate per annum.

Operators like Mang Pekto’s boss have to pay 800 pesos a day coming from their daily venture on the road, which will cause the drivers an additional cost aside from the eco-diesel that is needed in these modernized vehicles.

These box-shaped vehicles will start roaming the streets this year. It will be equipped by power steering and air conditions, and will have bigger passenger accommodation unlike the jeepneys that we have today.

Still, the modernization program is already set in motion.

Despite the urge of karatig drivers like Mang Pekto to avoid this modernization, which will serve as the extinction of these unique trademarks of the city, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade stated that the program will be implemented this year.

The modernization will push through, President Rodrigo Duterte said so.

“Next year, I don’t want to see any single PUJ [on the streets] because if I see one, you will be arrested. Do not resist anymore because I am telling the truth, this is the law,” Duterte said in a speech in Marawi City last 2017.

No one will be allowed to get away.

Despite the historical contribution of karatig in Malolos, fighting the modernization will be hard for the local government and drivers to obtain immunity.

“Kung iimplement mo sa isa dapat iimplement mo sa lahat, although bago ka maging exempted dapat meron kang valid reason and valid classification; anong classification mo, bakit ka ieexempt dun sa jeepney modernization,” explained Malolos City Administrator Attorney Rizaldy Mendoza.

He sees no difference from the ordinary jeepneys and the karatig jeepneys aside from its size. They all emit smokes, which contribute to the air pollution. Aside from this, he also envisions that this modernization will be the answer for the thick volume of vehicles roaming around the city.

The days of the iconic jeepneys are numbered sooner than their drivers and operators expect.

As the government pushes this program, the drivers are working double-time to prevent this.

“Hindi naman kami tutol, pero we’re proposing an alternative don sa gagawin sanang phase-out ng jeep. Kasi medyo ‘di ko nakikita na maganda yung planong modernization, pwera sa environment e, lahat. Pero yung abrupt impact niyan sa jeepney drivers, halos patayin mo na sila kasi magiging junk ng bigla-bigla yung kanilang jeep e, wala nang pupuntahan ‘yon.” said Mayor Natividad.

They are still seeking a way to oppose the modernization by proposing that drivers without franchise will no longer get one in the future. But, those who possess franchise will be given five to 10 years to prepare 1.6 million for a new vehicle. Completely different from what the government planned -- a quick, sudden decision for the jeepney drivers.

“Show sympathy and care doon sa mga ordinaryong jeepney drivers natin, by giving our thoughts through resolutions… through written ganyan na eto po yung aming nararamdaman. Sana mapakinggan, kasi that’s the best that we can do para sa kanila.” said Mayor Natividad as he expressed his sympathy for the karatig drivers.

If the karatig will be included in jeepney modernization, Mang Pekto decided to plant eggplants and string beans to replace the source of income to support his family. However, he admitted that sowing will not earn as much as he does in driving.

“Kasi ang halaman, buwan ang binibilang bago ka magkapera. Kasi ako may sitaw sa’min, isang pilapil ng sitaw e, wari tinanim kong ganon, dalawang buwan bago siya magbigay ng bunga. Paunti-unti ganon, dalawang buwan.”

Mang Pekto emphasized that the government should think thoroughly because many families will be affected if they continue to push this program in a short period without giving time to the operators who will be affected.