By Emmanuel Canto

It is sad to note that a bunch of dilapidated jeepneys are still plying the streets despite the upcoming phasing out of traditional jeepneys. So many decades that they have been serving the commuters, but some of them can be likened to a running coffin, as per my observation.

Old jeepneys are typically poorly maintained, and their engines emit large amounts of pollutants. Despite a bunch of opposition and drawbacks, the jeepney modernization program will benefit the commuters in terms of convenience and a comfortable riding experience, unlike in the old jeepneys wherein the commuters were exposed to fumes.

I am wondering why the operators of these jeepneys cannot ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy. It is their responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are clean so that the riding public will have a comfortable experience. There must be a law so that the riding public can also be protected. Commuters are suffering, but the operators continue to earn from their business at the expense of the riding public. Now is the time that the riding public can have a comfortable, clean, safe, environment-friendly modern jeepneys. How can the passengers of these dilapidated jeepneys be comfortable? As a case in point, the seats are worn out already and some of the operators don’t care as long as the boundary of their driver is complete.

It is to the disadvantage of the passengers and why the government agency that is tasked to monitor the road trustworthiness of these vehicles did nothing. A lot of these jeepneys are not roadworthy, hence they do not deserve to operate as public transport. Whose job is this to ensure the roadworthiness of these old jeepneys?

Worse, the drivers’ behavior is one of the key factors in ensuring road safety, regardless if the driver is driving an old dilapidated jeepney or modernized jeepney. A bunch of drivers driving modernized jeepneys are not observing traffic rules. In fact, the Transportation department is finalizing the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan for 2023 to 2028, which will focus on improving and intensifying road safety education and training.

No matter what the law states and enormous executive orders from government agencies, as long as there is no strict continuous implementation, then it’s useless. We need proactive government agencies to implement the law./WDJ