The transportation modernization program

Over the past months, Jeepney owners and drivers came out of the street to protest the so-called transportation modernization program. While the transportation industry would include everything – our trains, MRT/ LRT, our inter-island vessels, cargo ships, buses, jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs, taxis and transport network companies like Uber and Grab, SUVs and Light trucks, the most vocal of them all as we saw it are the Jeepney Operators and its Driver Associations.

These people claim that the program is anti-poor and that the industry will collapse if running with new vehicles are imposed as the present owners cannot afford to buy their replacement units.

Further, they claim that the program was actually to support the E-Jeeps that are suppose to replace the postwar Willys that were converted into jeepneys.

The government, on the other hand, has stood pat their decision that from henceforth, there should be no more registration of old, dilapidated jeepneys.

But modernization should not only be about the jeepneys. We should have a total program to modernize the transport industry not only for the safety of passengers but also to provide a convenient way of transporting people, especially foreign tourist flocking our beautiful tourist spots. Imagine people going into inter-island. They expect post card scenery in their itinerary and ride in comfortable vessels. Unfortunately, except for a few fast craft vessels that are operating the big boats are as old as 20-30 years old, surplus of the Japanese maritime industry.

What about our trains? Oh my gosh, the last time I went to Bicol using the train was in the 1950s yet. Today, these trains still run but are just overhauled, repainted year after year and running on repaired train tracks. A few were refurbished and that is just about it. Coaches are just good for short travel. Early morning rush, the site is no different from the train stations in India and Pakistan where passengers overflow.

What about the tricycles. Oh, the Tuk-toks of Thailand have already been replaced with E-bikes. Beautiful, comfortable and noise-free. The rick-shaws of Vietnam have been dislodged by comfortable, easy-to-drive motorcycles. In the Philippines, tricycles are a little faster than the calesas of Intramuros.

And going back to the jeepney industry, God forbid, more violent and horrible road accidents can be avoided with the use of modern electric jeepneys.

Modernization? Why not? For as long as the ideal is to sell more the country as one of the best tourist spots in Asia-Pacific, then let us support it. In the long run it would be better for the current owners to invest than face a lot of consequences as a result of using existing, old, dilapidated means of transportation.

***** The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of FINEX.

Email: tedestacio@yahoo.com