PASSENGER jeepney drivers and operators need government subsidy to be able to help modernize the public transport sector because many of them are poor, according to various transport leaders.
1-United Transport Koalisyon national president Vigor Mendoza II along with Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators of the Philippines president Zenaida Maranan, Alliance of Transport Operators of the Philippines president Melencio Vargas and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas president sent their appeal to President Aquino.
Much as what they want to upgrade their units, jeepney drivers and operators cannot do so due to lack of financial capacity, Mendoza laments.
Citing a University of the Philippines study, he says “most jeepney drivers and operators in the metropolis alone are poor, and that they are unable to modernize.”
“Per UP-National Center for Transportation Studies study, 52 percent of the drivers in Metro Manila earn only P200 to P400 per day as they are unable to optimize passenger load because their vehicles are small and dilapidated,” he adds as he says that phasing out jeepneys that are 15-years old is not the solution to public transport modernization.
If only operators could be able to upgrade their units, operating days would increase to a “high of 26 (days),” Mendoza says.
“This alone translates to an additional driver’s income to as much as P12,000 per month and operator’s income of P8,400 per month. Even a fuel savings of 60 percent could be realized, too.”
From a mileage of only five kilometers per liter, this will jump to eight kilometers per liter, or a savings of about P400 to P720 per day or about P10,000 per month and from as high of P10,000 per month, repair and maintenance would drop to P5,000 per month with a 50 percent savings.
On the other hand, operators who do not maintain their vehicles due to low income are now given the opportunity to properly maintain their units.
Among the other benefits of jeepney modernization are lower gas emission, reduced working hours per day from 16 hours to 12 hours, better environment, better passenger comfort and better traffic flow.
The four transport leaders appealed to the President to order government financial institutions, such as the Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines and Postal Bank of the Philippines to liberalize loan requirements; use the Road Board funds on clean air to augment loan funds for the entire transport sector, and allow jeepney operators who would opt to replace old units to enjoy a tax holiday and other benefits.
Mendoza also urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to speed up their processes.
Nice and tidy. GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
