Emerson Bismonte, 45, has been a jeepney driver for 18 years plying the Pasig-Bagumbayan route. When the government announced that traditional jeepneys would be phased out in 2017, he immediately joined the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) in 2022 in hopes of keeping his livelihood.

But as his earnings were not enough to sustain him and his family, after three months, he went back to driving traditional jeepneys.

“Paano ko mapagkakasya yung [kita] ko? Di [naman] kami libre sa pagkain, tapos may mga pinapaaral pa ako. Nagbabaon na lang ako para makatipid.” 

When driving a traditional jeepney, Bismonte is in charge of his time, and would typically earn P2,000 each day. But with the modern jeepney, a vehicle owned by a cooperative or a private corporation, he takes home P700 if he earns the P4,000 daily quota. Not reaching the quota would mean that he will only end up with P500 at hand at the end of the day.  

The PUVMP would mean taking away around 140,000 PUV drivers and 60,000 operators’ livelihoods. Some 28.5 million commuters, too, are affected by the phaseout, according to Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON).

Dangers of Entering a Cooperative

Bismonte was initially encouraged to drive the modern jeepney because he was told that it pays well, and there were social security benefits such as PhilHealth, Social Security System insurance, and Pag-IBIG Fund once he joins a transport cooperative. 

“Pero pagkapasok ko, yung mga sinasabi nilang benefits, lahat yun wala,” he said.

With no benefits and measly earnings, he could not decently support his family of four, with his two children aged 12 and 6 still studying, despite reporting to work at 1 p.m. and ending his shift at midnight. 

Under PUVMP, the first requirement is for jeepney drivers and operators to enter a cooperative. Corporations who can afford modernized jeepneys will own the units. The drivers and operators who pay for the jeepneys will not have ownership over the units. This is contrary to the customary system where jeepney drivers own and pay for their traditional jeepneys. 

Since January 1, traditional jeepney drivers were no longer allowed to operate.

The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board announced on December 25, 2023 that it will identify routes with less than 60 percent consolidation where traditional jeepneys will be allowed. But PISTON, in a post, said that this is not an extension, but merely a temporary solution to coerce operators to apply for franchise consolidation.

For drivers like Bismonte who were forced into joining the PUVMP, they see no benefit under a cooperative, and would still prefer having ownership over their jeepney units. 

Transport groups have long called for a just transition toward modernization, which entails allowing operators to upgrade their fleet with the freedom to choose when and where they will acquire units from.

“Sana hindi kami pilitin pumasok sa [cooperative]. Yung kilalanin kami bilang indibidwal at ang karapatan namin di mawala. Di kami tutol sa modernization basta ang prangkisa namin di maapektuhan,” said Bismonte. “Sino nga ba naman ang aayaw sa bago? Ang gusto lang naman namin, pang-masa yung presyo.”

Local Alternatives

Jeepney drivers and operators welcomed the new year with continued calls for the junking of the PUVMP. But amid their campaigns, some businesses are already taking advantage of the loss of traditional jeepney units, with at least four foreign companies eyeing to invest in electric vehicle companies in the country.

For Mira Molino of PISTON Women, there are local manufacturers capable of producing modern vehicles but are dominated by foreign firms. In the case of PUVMP, two Chinese, one American, and one Indonesian firms are eyeing to sell modern jeeps here, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Modern jeepneys approximately cost P2.8 million, or at least P20,000 per month if operators get a 10-year loan. Modern jeeps conform to government specifications such as the installation of an automated fare collection system, air conditioning, and surveillance cameras. 

As transport groups call for a just transition into modernization, modern jeeps inevitably have to be mass-produced. There are, however, Filipino-owned manufacturers, which transport groups would rather support. 

Francisco Motors, for instance, has built an electric and modernized jeepney, whose exterior dons that of a traditional jeepney, but meets the specifications of modern jeepneys. This costs P985,000 for the first 1,000 units, which is around P1.8 million cheaper than the current modern jeepneys.

But ultimately, what Bismonte and other traditional jeepney drivers are calling for is the junking of the current scheme of PUVMP.

“Yung consolidation, walang kasulatan. Yung iba nagpa-consolidate, wala pa rin yung unit nila. Kami naman, tuloy pa rin [sa pamamasada],” said Molina. “Hanggang sa huli, lalaban kami.” ●