The Monday morning drive to the gym was like none other. Circumferential Road, in Barangay Bata, with the exception of the overflowing taxis parked in the middle of the road, obstructing the street every day, it was clear and smooth sailing all the way down to Bangga Pepsi. No jeepneys making random u-turns in the middle of the road; no double and triple parking of jeepneys, not picking up passengers, but just idling or having their morning coffee; and there were two lanes of traffic that still allowed for cars to park on the side of the road – it was a once in a lifetime semblance of order on one of the city’s main roads.
Making the turn towards Talisay City, the drive passed the North Terminal, where jeepneys frequently cut off other vehicles, block traffic by driving between lanes, stopping abruptly to pick up and drop off passengers, and bottle-necking at the u-turn a few meters down the road, was non-existent. For once, it was a rare moment of civility navigating a city road.
The drive back, driving by the terminal across the street from the Ceres facility, was a marvel. The jeepneys that weave in and out of traffic, blindly entering and exiting the lot, idling in the road to wait for passengers, blocking the road to execute a u-turn, or parking along the road and occupying a lane of traffic were all but gone – it was lovely.
In subsequent reports following the demonstration, it was discovered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Region VI (LTFRB-6) issued show cause orders to those who participated in the demonstration, exposing their actions as, not only self-serving, but in defiance of their own industry.
According to an LTFRB Memorandum, “An operator of a public utility vehicle (PUV) shall not resort to any cessation of service as a sign of demonstration of protest or committing acts prejudicial to the riding public like paralyzing transport services.”
When approached, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) Secretary-General Diego Malacad says their reason for the protesting was the move by the national government to phase-out vehicles that are at least 15 years old. However, following Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. indicating his support for the phase-out, along with Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Malacad later claimed he is not completely opposed to the phase-out, but is demanding the government provide new vehicles if a phase-out takes place.
What seems to be the go-to for most in the Philippines is dependence on the government to provide for all of their needs. The government already controls the price of gasoline, the price of goods, provides endless handouts for various communities across the country; yet they also assess fees on every step of government processes and set taxes at a high rate, along with a value-added tax. First off, many in the public need to recognize the country is already more of a socialist state them a capitalist nation – whether they like it or not. With the government encroaching on every aspect of life, despite “deregulation,” which was primarily the handing over of an industry from the government to a government crony, essentially, the government still gains from the transaction.
If PUV operators are now expecting the government to buy them new vehicles, expect more charges from the government to make up for those additional expenses – would expect the first thing to experience a hike would be fares; which may incite another demonstration, it’s a never-ending cycle of discontent.
What UNDOC and their allies have shown to the city is the possibility of decongested roads and smooth traffic – all without the scrutiny on private motor vehicles.
Instead of the government spending taxpayer money on providing jeepney drivers with new vehicles, Monday’s events show the investment in a formal bus system, instead of the antiquated jeepney system, would be a more fruitful venture in terms of alleviating some of the traffic woes and implementing an organized system of getting around the city.
Some of the primary changes that would come with a formal bus system would be lesser vehicles on the road, which would be a reduction in the number of reckless drivers who are usually behind the wheels of an exhaust-spewing jeepney; a bus can carry a larger number of passengers, which would allow for more people to travel at a time and, with the reduction in vehicle volume, make for a quicker commute; and the establishment of a fixed set of stops to ensure there is no interruption to the flow of traffic, a major side effect of the current jeepney arrangement.
Of course with any kind of overhaul reform, there will be an adjustment process. However, in the end, switching over from the obsolete jeepney system that is nothing but a plague to the city – both in terms of traffic and air pollution – would be a benefit. Taking every single jeepney off the road would bring the same peace to the roads witnessed on Monday. Not to exonerate private motorists, who, on many occasions, exhibit the same nonsensical behavior behind the wheel, but with jeepney drivers off the road there would be much more order to the roads, giving the city a real opportunity to progress into a modern hub.
Commuters will also benefit with a more reliable system, because of the reduced traffic, with a bus system that is capable of running on a schedule with established stops to keep both drivers and commuters moving.
Along with public buses, with the roads cleared out, perhaps the Department of Education could even look into the possibility of school buses, something implemented in many parts of the world that has served as a great benefit to students and parents./WDJ