ILOILO’s transport sector is at a crossroads. The Department of Transportation’s push to modernize the public utility jeepney (PUJ) system through the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program has sparked both hope and concern across the local transport community. As the government works toward creating a more safe and environmentally friendly transportation system, it must also ensure that all sectors, including those who are struggling to keep up with the transition, have a fair chance to participate in this transformation.
The modernization program aims to replace old, inefficient, and unsafe jeepneys with newer, more environmentally friendly vehicles. The benefits? modernized jeepneys promise to reduce pollution, improve safety, and ensure more efficient transport, all of which are crucial for Iloilo’s growing population and urban development. Currently, 93 percent of jeepneys in Iloilo have already joined cooperatives and aligned with the Local Public Transport Route Plan. This reflects Iloilo City’s commitment to creating safer, more efficient transportation options for residents.
However, the push for full consolidation of the jeepney sector has left a significant portion of drivers behind. There are still around 800 unconsolidated jeepneys in Iloilo, with many of their drivers facing financial difficulties in joining cooperatives or upgrading to modernized vehicles. Transport Secretary Vince Dizon’s recent statement that unconsolidated jeepneys may soon be allowed back on the road has reignited the anxiety among those who have already invested in modernized units. Transport cooperatives, which have invested millions in the new vehicles and are already struggling with overdue bank loans, fear that allowing the return of unconsolidated jeepneys will undermine their financial stability and lead to even greater competition from unregistered and colorum vehicles.
For instance, the Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI) has already acquired 555 out of 1,782 modernized units, with each unit costing approximately P2 million. WVATCCI expressed concerns that the possible return of unconsolidated jeepneys would jeopardize their investments and force them to shut down. This is particularly worrying for operators who, due to unregistered vehicles on the road, have seen a 30 to 50 percent loss of projected income. The return of these jeepneys would not only challenge their financial viability but could also collapse the progress made in consolidating transport operations under the modernization program.
Yet, amid these concerns, there are calls for a more inclusive approach to modernization. Elmer Forro of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition welcomed Dizon’s statement, viewing it as a potential victory for unconsolidated drivers who have been left out of the modernization process. Forro highlighted the disillusionment among cooperative members who have faced internal issues such as mismanagement and corruption. His calls for greater legal clarity from the DOTr reflect the deep divisions within Iloilo’s transport sector, where the fight for fairness and inclusion has become as urgent as the push for modernization.
In this context, Iloilo’s situation provides an opportunity to rethink how public transport modernization can be both progressive and inclusive. The government must ensure that the benefits of modernization are accessible to everyone, particularly those who are struggling to transition. This may include extending the deadlines for consolidation, offering financial assistance or subsidies, and exploring flexible solutions that allow unconsolidated drivers to become part of the cooperative system without the burden of unrealistic costs. Additionally, reforms within cooperatives are needed to address the concerns of corruption and mismanagement.
Iloilo has made significant strides in modernizing its transport system, but the process must be more inclusive. The success of the PUVMP should not be measured solely by the number of modernized jeepneys on the road, but also by the degree to which all sectors of the transport community — whether consolidated or unconsolidated — are given a chance to benefit from the transformation. Only then can Iloilo’s public transport system be truly modernized, for the safety, efficiency, and prosperity of all its residents.
