Strength in numbers

There is no denying it. Jeepneys have for a long time been shortchanging the riding public. They get token tidying sometimes, but really commuters have to make do with these rolling rattletraps that could anytime go haywire in highways. Not to mention drivers who’d load them up with passengers to kingdom come, defying the laws of physics. More, some just barrel off into traffic like they’re straight out from a Mad Max rush.

The public utility vehicle industry has for years generally impressed upon commuters an utter lack of concern and sensitivity. It wasn’t patronage that daily stuffed them to the rafters; the public simply didn’t have a choice. Which is why it comes as no surprise that most commuter surveys support the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), a comprehensive program that intends to overhaul the country’s public transport culture.

Crafted by a wide range of sectors, the program institutes mechanisms that intend to soften its impact on small operators and drivers. It designed a loan program with government banks so that affected stakeholders can junk their old units and buy program-compliant editions, pegged at around P1.9 million. How is that possible?

The feverish price sparked wide protests, yesterday’s transport strike for instance. The program roused strong resistance from a number of drivers’ and operators’ groups—Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (Acto), to name a few. The groups see that around 240,000 jeepneys and 80,000 UV Express service vehicles will be affected by the program.

The PUVMP, however, proposes the better idea of strength in numbers, the economy of scale. It pushes for industry consolidation or strategic merging of small players into cooperatives or corporations.

Very visible in the city these days are rolls of cheerful commuters in blue buses. At this stage of the phaseout, the Cebu People’s Multipurpose Cooperative is already showing impressive strides with its PeoplesJeep or Beeps (bus-jeeps). Regulatory agencies find that the PeoplesJeep units are Euro 4 emission standard compliant, they have wifi, a closed-circuit television camera and air-conditioning unit.

Last we know from People’s Coop chief executive officer Macario Quevedo, they had 700 franchises from small operators of old passengers who have joined the coop, which now has plans of buying 200 units in 2020, the phaseout deadline.

More than demonstrating a good example in stakeholder integration and strength in numbers, the coop is proving that modernization without sacrificing any sector can be done and that operators and drivers need not feel defeated. Simply, just break the old habits and see things in a new light.

Organized transport groups should probably see their advantage in the scheme of things—organized.