“Private companies always come after big profit margins. Under LRMC’s contract, the government will pay once the corporation is not able to charge a fare hike. This is unclear and anti-people,” said Bayan.
Piston said most of the country’s jeepney drivers and operators are fine with upgrading and rehabilitating the jeepneys, but not in the total scrapping of it as advocated by the Transportation department.
“Through standards only a few foreign corporations could comply to, and through selling vehicles only they could manufacture, jeepney operators are subjected to the monopoly of these corporations, and they would be mired in debt.”
The No To Jeepney Phaseout Coalition points to Mar Roxas as one of the prime movers of the jeepney phase out plan when he was still Transportation secretary.
So far, only two units have been delivered in an approved fleet management group. Its machines overheated and conked out in less than one month.
Read also: Drivers vow zero votes to LP, Mar Roxas
“The government must be responsible to the transportation workers, the passengers and the communities.”
Instead of killing off small jeepney manufacturers, operators, the government could help them in acquiring new machines at friendly prices and contracts.
They are also asking instead for government subsidy to allow Filipino jeepney assemblers to modernize the jeepney.
“Lack of government funding and continued neglect result in the deteriorating quality of services, overcrowding of coaches, and a plethora of safety issues.”
Topload
Ang hindi pa rin narerealisa ng nagmomotor ay ang kanilang politikal na kapangyarihan para sa kanilang kolektibong kondisyon. Peryodiko silang pinapara ng pulis para hingan ng kung anong identifikasyon at papeles. Peryodiko silang naaksidente. At kapag umuulan, para silang nagsisiksikang kulumpon ng nalulunod na langgam sa ilalim ng pedestrian walk. Kahit pa ang mall ay…