Six years have passed since the Philippines transportation department launched the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). This initiative aims to bring the country's public transportation, including the iconic jeepney, in line with global standards.
According to the Philippines information agency, the program aims to provide Filipinos with a "safe, reliable, convenient, and environmentally sustainable" transportation system.
In addition, government officials explain that the modernization program will result in more organized and efficient groups. It will also eliminate the boundary system, allowing drivers to earn more money in a more reasonable number of hours.
Nevertheless, the program faces opposition from jeepney drivers and operators who argue that upgrading their vehicles to meet the new standards is too high and would jeopardize their livelihoods.
Modernization Program to Phase Out Old Jeepneys
According to data from the Philippines' transportation franchising and regulatory board (LTFRB), the country has over 9 million registered vehicles, of which jeepneys account for over 250,000.
Under the new proposal, jeepneys that have been 15 years or more on the road cannot be registered or operated. Meanwhile, new jeepney engines must comply with Euro-4 and Philippine National Standards (PNS).
This means that they should be LPG-powered, electronic, or hybrid. Other features to look for in a modernized jeepney include GPS, an automated fare collection system, a 30-passenger capacity, and a CCTV camera.
However, upgrading to a modern e-jeepney will cost jeepney drivers a fortune.
A standard jeepney costs between P150,000 and P250,000 ($4,500). In contrast, according to Rappler, a modern e-jeepney would cost drivers and operators as much as P2.8 million ($50,820), an increase of 1,766.7%. Available data suggests an average jeepney driver makes P2,500 ($45) per day.
PUV operators have until June 30, 2023, to join an existing consolidated entity; otherwise, they will be prohibited from continuing operations.
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According to the Manila Times, FMC, a local jeep maker endorsed by the transportation department, will be among the companies to build modern jeepneys, creating jobs for Filipinos.
The electric "Francisco" jeep factory will be located in Camarines Norte, a province in Southern Luzon, and will be capable of producing 20,000 jeepneys per year.
In the same report, the company is also talking with jeepney operators about the possibility of retrofitting existing jeepneys to make them PUVM-compliant for those who cannot afford the new government-mandated vehicles.
Concerns for Modernization
The Philippine senate has recently adopted a resolution urging the LTFRB to delay the planned phase-out of all traditional jeepneys and to address the urgent and valid concerns affected operators and drivers raised regarding the program's financial viability.
Critics of the program have raised concerns about the availability of funding and the lack of consultation with stakeholders during the program's implementation.
The diesel-powered jeepneys of the Philippines descended from United States military vehicles that were abandoned in the Philippines after World War II.
Just recently, Philippine transport groups went on strike to protest the modernization program that drivers worry would phase out traditional jeepneys that have grown into a recognized cultural symbol.
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