THE JEEPNEY crash in Barangay Maninila, Miag-ao, Iloilo on April 19 that left over 50 people injured — many of them children and elderly family members — was not an isolated accident. It was a preventable consequence of a long-standing and dangerously normalized practice: overloading transport vehicles, especially in rural areas.
Seventy passengers, some riding on the roof, were squeezed into a jeepney bound for Tubog Beach Resort in San Joaquin. A joyful beach outing turned into a nightmare when the vehicle overturned on a curved road. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) rightly labeled it a case of “reckless maneuvering.” But beyond the administrative show cause order issued to the driver lies a far deeper problem rooted in culture, convenience, and complacency.
In many rural towns, it is customary — and often encouraged — for families and neighbors to ride together in a single jeepney (and tricycles) during excursions or holidays, never mind the vehicle’s capacity. Passengers are seen clinging to the back, hanging from rails, or riding on the roof, especially during fiestas, wakes, or summer outings. It is seen as practical, as communal. But it is dangerously irresponsible.
Authorities may issue seasonal reminders or conduct sporadic checkpoints, but these half-measures only scratch the surface of a cultural norm that continues to endanger lives year after year. The Miag-ao crash underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift in transport safety in the countryside.
Convenience and cost-saving must never be excuses to put lives at risk especially by public transport. Transport operators, drivers, and even passengers must be held accountable. Safety nets on roofs, strict passenger limits, and consistent enforcement of regulations must become non-negotiable. Most importantly, we must start re-educating communities — from the grassroots level — on the consequences of ignoring transport safety protocols.
We were lucky that no one died in Miag-ao. But must we wait for fatalities before we act decisively?
Let this be the last wake-up call we ignore.
