Jeepney adaptation, anyone?

WHAT walks like a duck and talks like a duck is probably a duck? But is a vehicle that does not look like a jeepney probably a jeepney?

I have been looking at the socalled “modern jeepneys” that are now plying our streets, but as far as my two eyes can see, they do not look like jeepneys, modern or not.

At best, I could say that they look like minibuses, modern or not.

I think that the government might have made two significant mistakes in promoting the so-called jeepney modernization program.

Firstly, they promoted a design that really does not look like a jeepney at all.

Secondly, they promoted the term “consolidation”, instead of cooperativism.

Perhaps what the government really means is for the drivers to join a transport cooperative to become a part owner of a jeepney, and not to “consolidate” their jeepneys to whatever.

What puzzles me is that the government is also promoting these imported minibuses, and not the locally manufactured “modern jeepneys” that are as good as, or perhaps even better than their imported versions.

Is it not better for the government to say that transport cooperatives should buy locally produced modern jeepneys, instead of buying the imported minibuses that do not even look like jeepneys?

Should t he f ocus of t he government be on the emissions compliance of these vehicles instead? Meaning that locally made jeepneys should be approved as long as they are emissions compliant?

TRAINING OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS BEFORE OATH TAKING

Most barangay officials have no understanding or working knowledge of effective governance after election to the position. It creates a situation where basic mandates of a government are compromised risking public security, safety, promoting a degrading sociopsychological, economic and physical environment.

The lack of training results in their own mental and physical health deterioration from stress.

They s hould have basi c governance t raining before assumption of office. One solution is to require passing following training components before election and before oath taking:

1. Basic barangay organization, roles of officials, f unctional councils, governance mandates and coordinating procedures

2. Occupational health and safety awareness for barangay officials

3. Alternative dispute resolution modalities, mediation procedures, and

4. Robert’s Rules of Order We have a democratic system wherein anyone could run and the winners could assume public office, whether we like it or not. There is nothing that we could do about that.

But there is still something that we could do, and that is to require training before election and before oath taking.

Some candidates and some winners might object to this idea, but I think they could be convinced to cooperate, especially if they can see that the majority of the people supports it./ PN

Some candidates and some winners might object to this idea, but I think they could be convinced to cooperate, especially if they can see that the majority of the people supports it.