Corporate interests for monopoly capitalism

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Wednesday, October 18, 2017
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(We yield this space to the statement of the Promotion of Church People’s Response due to its timeliness. – Ed.)

THE FILIPINO jeepney has often been lauded as a symbol of national identity.  What happens to the jeep is a matter of common concern, but such identity alone has not summoned us to unite as tsuper, operators and commuters to thwart the current government’s proposed jeepney phaseout scheme:  the glaring reason to be against this plan is that this is yet another ploy by politicians to put a basic utility and essential service of the people into the hands of big business that is controlled by the ruling elite and oligarchs. The Promotion of Church People’s Response applauds the No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition for coordinating this effort to expose the anti-people maneuvers of the Duterte administration.

Commuters the nation over are intimately familiar with the realities of jeep culture.  As overseas Filipino workers saved a small nest egg from their hard-earned salaries abroad, many decided to purchase a jeepney at home.  This was seen as a concrete and wise investment for their future and the welfare of their families.  The livelihood of more than half a million jeepney drivers and owners are at stake. Under this jeepney phaseout scheme, most jeeps that currently ply the streets and roadways to crisscross our nation and deliver passengers to their destinations will be prohibited.

A farcical objective of “modernization” has set the stage for a few key businessmen, notably Ayala and Pangilinan, to begin their efforts to corner the market in public transport.  Since single unit franchises will not be allowed under a 10-unit minimum for franchise agreements, small economic ventures of Filipino jeepney owners will be prohibited, as big business takes over the market.

Even current jeepney drivers who find work in the new ranks will be relegated to the status of shift workers and will more than likely be subjected to contractual treatment with inadequate income.  Even more, the jeepney phaseout scheme will re-order many routes and is likely to prioritize the ease of private vehicles to detriment of the commuting majority in the new mapping.

Calling something an effort at “modernization” does not assure that it is in the interest of the majority or the common people. Church people, as much as anyone, would like to see the betterment of systems of operation and the efficiency of our society; however, the jeepney phaseout plan will further concentrate both profit and power into the hands of the rich, weakening opportunities for economic participation by small business and the every Juan of our nation.
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