Jeepney operators need money to modernize

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BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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ILOILO City – Two big jeepney associations have formed a cooperative to help members overcome the financial challenges posed by the government’s jeepney modernization program.

The Western Visayas Transport Cooperative would help members – primarily jeepney operators – to, among others, secure loans to buy modern jeepneys.

The modernization program phases out jeepneys 15 years old and older for public safety and environmental reasons.

At an expo in Metro Manila organized by the Department of Transportation and Department of Trade and Industry in October last year, a modern jeepney cost at least P1.3 million. Under the modernization plan, the government would help operators through a subsidy program.

The Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) and the Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (CIPJODA) agreed that forming a cooperative was the right move to help members financially.

According to ICLAJODA president Raymundo Parcon, the cooperative would have an estimated 1,000 members, all jeepney operators.

Each member would have to shell out P10,000 as share capital but an initial contribution of P2,000 would do, said Parcon.

“Indi mo na siling madali-dali hatag ang P10,000 kundi amat-amat,” he said.

The share capital represents an individual member commitment to the cooperative. It also identifies the individual member’s financial stake.

The modern jeepney that the government is pushing either has electrically-powered engines with solar panels for roofs or powered with Euro 4 engines.

It also has safety features dashboard camera, speed limiter, closed-circuit television camera and global positioning system.

What will happen to the phased out old jeepneys?

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has a “scrappage program” for them. According to Chairman Martil Delgra III last year, the Board would ensure a fair appraisal of the vehicles so that operators won’t be “left at the mercy of those who are willing to buy the scraps.”

Parcon said the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative would also be putting up transport-related businesses to sustain its operation such as auto-supply and vulcanizing shops.

An 180,000 old jeepneys nationwide face replacement, said Delgra.

Jeepney associations in Western Visayas staged transport strikes in February and June last year to oppose the jeepney modernization program.

In October, an angry President Rodrigo Duterte warned jeepney drivers.

“Sumunod kayo because Jan. 1, (2018) ‘pag may nakita ako diyan na mga jeep ninyo na hindi narehistro, luma, guguyurin ko ‘yan sa harap ninyo…pag hindi n’yo na-modernize ‘yan, umalis kayo. Mahirap kayo, putang ina, sige. Magtiis kayo sa hirap at gutom, wala akong pakialam,” said Duterte./PN
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