A report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer last year, amid protests against the jeepney modernization program, quoted one jeepney operator saying, “Yung anak ko nga mag-iiyak na sinabi na kagabi maphase out na ang jeep, paano na, Dada? (Last night, when I said jeepneys were being phased out, my child cried, what happens now, Dad)?” Another said, “Diyan lang namin nakukuha pambayad ng tuition, pang-araw araw at pangkain (That is how we pay for tuition, daily expsnes, and food).”

These appeals to the public have gone on for ages, with politicians quick to heed their call, particularly because they, along with tricycle operators, comprise a fairly influential voting bloc. The general public, comprised of mostly low-income families, can relate to the struggle of having to put food on the table every day. The situation is a humbling one. The ever-present poverty situation is something both national and local governments have failed to address over the decades.

With the blatant disregard for domestic industry, beyond working overseas or at a call center, with many jobs demanding heavily-inflated requirements, the remaining options are few and far between.

However, hearing the pleas of these individuals is one thing, seeing them in actions paints a completely different picture.

One drive down any road serves as a reminder as to how empty these appeals are.

On any given day, traffic is backed up because a jeepney decides to let off or take on passengers in the middle of the road. This common practice forces all vehicular traffic behind them to stop; others take it upon themselves to drive around the jeepney, into oncoming traffic, which creates a hazard for all parties involved. Even when one tries to get around the idle vehicle, in every case, if finished in time, the jeepney always tries to get in front of traffic, speeding up when they see another vehicle trying to pass. In no way does that exhibit a humble personality.

It is also very apparent that rear-view mirrors are only for the purpose of the operator to check their appearance because they are never used to check for other vehicle that may be to either side. It is appalling how many times a jeepney operator will switch lanes and nearly sideswipe the car occupying the next lane. It is most definitely a “king of the road” mentality, not something one would expect from a supposedly modest individual merely looking to feed his kids.

There is also the matter of tricycle operators, who clearly have no regard for those they share the roads with. They drive slowly, are constantly distracted while searching for potential passengers, and often show their disdain when requested by the driver of an automobile to move into the slow lane – it would be even harder to find a shred of humility in that industry.

A February 2017 editorial in the Philippine Star pointed out, “While symbolizing Filipino culture, however, the jeepney has also become associated with inefficient and unsustainable mass transportation.”

“Jeepneys are among the biggest sources of carbon emissions,” the story went on to say. “Their drivers are also notoriously resistant to any effort to impose road discipline, picking up and unloading passengers even in the middle of busy thoroughfares and turning stops into virtual terminals.”

Sad to say, the situation is not a local issue, it’s a nationwide epidemic of arrogance and self-righteousness.

Personally, when jeepney operators go on strike, those are some of the best days. The roads are cleared of vehicles that create the most hazards and the city responds by deploying buses and vans. If buses were brought on as a regular mode of transportation, where drivers are taught proper conduct while on the road, practice common courtesy, with passenger pick-up and drop-off are limited to designated stops, jeepneys could be eliminated all-together and a more efficient system could be implemented – that is if elected officials are willing to face backlash from the industry (which is very unlikely).

With so many officials often babbling about “political will,” the phrase has become cliché and just sounds more and more like a meaningless slogan rather than a character trait,

In the end, with jeepney and tricycle operators continuing to take to the streets with no regard for other drivers, or the law; and politicians keep kowtowing to their demands – appealing for the community to be sympathetic to their needs – the general public is left with nothing but a nuisance on the road that causes congestion and colossal air pollution, and are stuck behind the wheel with constant anxiety over a potential traffic accident – sounds like the furthest thing from “progress.”/WDJ