THE PHILIPPINES’ “king of the road” has always been the world-famous jeepney. Decades back in Metro Manila, the dominant jeepney design was by the Sarao family that had been at the forefront of putting art decors in the vehicle, making it a tourist attraction as well.
Decades have past and the Sarao-type jeepney was overtaken by simpler versions designed by auto manufacturers.
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In Iloilo, visitors are amused by local jeepney body design – long and lowered, and the fascia is patterned after modern automobiles. I recall then Marikina City mayor Bayani Fernando (who once visited Iloilo City for the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival on the invitation of Mayor Jerry Treñas whose wife Rosalie was a classmate of Fernando’s wife Marides) being amused with the local jeepney design. He told me he liked the vehicle to be an open-air tourist jeepney.
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Today, air-conditioned mini buses are competing with traditional jeepneys for road dominance. Commuters have gladly welcomed the government’s move to gradually replace traditional jeepneys with modern mini buses that give commuters more comfort, rain or shine, for a few pesos more.
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But what will happen to traditional jeepneys that have been the bread and butter of thousands of drivers?
Many believe they will stay forever. The government, on the other hand, further seeks to eradicate air pollution, and traditional jeepneys are being cited as one of the sources and thus must be replaced.
Some quarters say traditional jeepneys must be strictly regulated and modernized to meet air safety standards.
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One school of thought pushes for the conversion or re-fabrication of “junky” jeepneys. This is a “cheaper” alternative to an outright purchase of mini buses as replacement.
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While jeepneys in Iloilo remain in better shape, the contrary is true in Bacolod, the City of Smiles. There are thousands of “junky” jeepneys crisscrossing the streets. Some passengers have experience getting their clothing ripped. It’s not amusing!
What’s the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office are doing to ensure that jeepneys in Bacolod are safe and comfortable to passengers?
There are also reports that many “junky” jeepneys operate at night even with defective headlights! This is dangerous.
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On the angle of road safety, the modest municipality of E.B. Magalona in the northern part of Negros Occidental just after Silay City plans to have its 12-kilometer national highway declared a “Traffic Discipline Zone.”
Mayor Marvin Malacon wants a strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations in the name of public safety.
He already discussed with stakeholders the possibility of imposing speed limits. Most dangerous in the area are sugarcane trailer trucks, wing vans, oil tankers and commercial trucks driven by irresponsible and speed-loving drivers.
Mayor Malacon plans to acquire speed guns to determine the speed of passing vehicles and apprehend the over-speeders.
Making our streets safe is part of good governance./PN
