Karatig Jeepneys: One Last Ride of Vanishing History

Ferrer, Guerrero, Valmadrid

The iconic karatig jeepney in Malolos City. Source: http://kameranijuan.weebly.com/articles/malolos-little-adventurer

Your Malolos tour will not be complete if you do not experience riding the mini version of typical jeepney roaming around the streets of Malolos. Karatig, which literally translates to ‘nearby’, accommodates commuters who wish to reach short-distance travels that are within the barangays of Malolos.

According to City Administrator Attorney Rizaldy Mendoza, karatig has almost 4,000 of its kind, as it has been a convenient transportation in the city.

The Karatig jeepney started touring the streets of Malolos after Second World War ended. In history, it is a product of Filipino innovation, which is a longer version of the three-meter surplus war vehicles left by the Americans that were used in fighting with the Japanese.

“It’s an imitation of the World War II jeepney, ginawang venture, nagkaroon ng pagkakataon kumita na ‘yan ang ginamit, very important kasi lahat ng pumapasok at dumadaan dito sa loob ng poblacion, ‘pag hindi tricycle is the karatig.” said Attorney Mendoza.

From being short, these jeepneys were renovated to become even longer and can carry a larger number of passengers than before. This idea, which started from the Sarao family in Laguna, has been an effective mode of transportation for the people of Malolos.

These karatig jeepneys have different routes that spans less than 14 kilometers. From normal and typical Bayan-Capitol-Lugam, while some karatig jeepneys have Bayan-Fausta-Maunlad route.

However, last June 2017, Department of Transportation unveiled their modernization project for the jeepneys that will be called as "Eco Philippine Utility Vehicle.” It aims for safe and comfortable transport, predictable travel time, and competent drivers.

While the government plans to replace all old public utility vehicles (PUV) aged 15 years or older with environment friendly jeepneys that have safety features, several operators are still showing their contradiction to the government on how they will be affected by this jeepney modernization.

The updated design of pinoy jeepney cannot deny the positive effect of it to the environment and the comfortability of daily commuters. By means of increasing our transport fare from the minimum fare, we are able to get more secured and we can feel the security while on our way to another place.

“Magandang pakinggan lang dahil sa mga taumbayan dahil may tap card, modernization, ganito yung sasakyan. Pero isa pang disadvantage, syempre itataas ang pamasahe nyan, baka hindi lang bente pesos ang minimum nyan. Maraming magiging complicated, pero iisa lang ang tinutumbok…. Ang mayayaman, na gusto pang payamanin,” said Mister Estrella, Secretary General of Malolos Karatig Federation (MAKAFED).

Knowing the opinions of Maloleños regarding the inclusion of karatig into jeepney modernization program. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPpJEqsTw6g&feature=youtu.be

Mang Pekto San Diego, one of the affected karatig jeepney drivers, expressed his dismay regarding this modernization because his source of income will be feigned.

“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,” he confessed.

Mang Pekto who drives karatig jeepney for a living showed his dismay in replacing the current mini-jeepneys into bigger vehicles.

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.

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.

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 krudo 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 the thousands of 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.

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 80,000 pesos for operators who cannot afford the modernized jeepneys. Loans under this program has 6-percent interest and is payable within seven years.

Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad expressed his support for the jeepney drivers to exclude the karatig jeepneys in the modernization program.

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.

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 such a pain for the drivers and commuters alike.

The difference of the features of karatig jeepney and electric jeepneys.

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 with 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 have to pay 800 pesos a day coming from the driver’s daily venture on the road, which will cause them 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.

Despite the urge of karatig drivers like Mang Pekto to avoid this modernization, President Rodrigo Duterte said that the modernization will push through this year.

“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.

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 Attorney Mendoza.

He sees no difference from the ordinary jeepneys and the karatig jeepneys aside from its size. They all emit smokes that 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.

Mayor Natividad explained that this modernization would not be practical if the government started this program immediately without consulting the operators and drivers who will be affected. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzD4r61Jrxc

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.