PUV Modernization Program, anti-poor nga ba? | The Mangahas Interviews
Simula February 1, ituturing nang colorum at huhulihin na ang mga jeep na hindi sumali sa consolidation ng LTFRB sa ilalim ng PUV modernization program. Ayon sa datos ng LTFRB as of January 15, naabot ng gobyerno ang 76.6% consolidation rate para sa mga jeep kahit na may mga pagtutol mula sa ilang mga driver at operator.
Ayon kay Dr. Teodoro Mendoza, may akda ng pag-aaral na “Addressing the Blind Side of the Government's Jeepney Modernization Program,” tila hindi raw napag-aralan nang husto ang pagpapatupad sa naturang programa.
Ang magiging epekto ng PUV modernization program sa mga driver at pasahero, panoorin sa kanyang buong panayam sa #TheMangahasInterviews.
Ayon kay Dr. Teodoro Mendoza, may akda ng pag-aaral na “Addressing the Blind Side of the Government's Jeepney Modernization Program,” tila hindi raw napag-aralan nang husto ang pagpapatupad sa naturang programa.
Ang magiging epekto ng PUV modernization program sa mga driver at pasahero, panoorin sa kanyang buong panayam sa #TheMangahasInterviews.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:05 Jeepneys that will not be included in the PUV Modernization Program will be considered as a "colorum"
00:11 This is a big obstacle to the survival of operators and drivers who will not join the cooperatives.
00:19 Let's talk about the so-called "blind sides" of the PUV Modernization Program
00:25 We have here with us a scientist, a full professor, an author of an important study
00:35 "The Blind Side to the Jeepney Modernization Program"
00:40 He is a full professor, scientist, and Google Scholar with many citations, more than 600
00:48 And in his research, he always comes up with a name for his studies, whether it's agriculture, crop studies, etc.
00:58 And we will focus on his studies
01:01 Good day, Professor Teodoro C. Mendoza
01:06 Good day!
01:08 Dr. Ted, we are talking about the "blind sides" of Jeepney Drivers and Operators. What do you think is the main issue that the government should focus on?
01:20 For example, I used to teach. My lifeline is teaching as a professor in the university.
01:30 If I leave teaching, what will happen to my life?
01:35 It's like that. If you remove the fish from the water, what will happen to its lifeline?
01:41 Jeepneys are the lifeline of Jeepney Operators and Drivers.
01:46 If they are removed, they will face out. How will they survive?
01:51 You have written some issues in your book.
01:56 You said the blind side of the Jeepney Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
02:01 It's important to lay out the data.
02:06 How big is the sector of Jeepneys in the total number of vehicles, motor vehicles registered and distributed in our streets?
02:18 Well, the claim of many is that it will reach 400,000 Jeepneys in the entire Philippines.
02:28 Maybe those who are not registered in rural areas are included.
02:33 If they are just distributed, it's like that. Maybe they don't need to register, by the way.
02:39 But those who are registered, about 300,000. Something like that figure.
02:46 But as a percentage of total vehicles in the Philippines, motor vehicles, how much is it?
02:52 We have more than 10 million vehicles now, roughly 3 percent.
02:59 Less than 3 percent.
03:01 There is an objective of this modernization program.
03:04 Just to be clear, what is the result that you hope for?
03:09 The objective is to modernize or face out these vehicles because they are high emitters of health hazards
03:21 and highly pollutive gases.
03:24 They contribute 15 to 33 percent emissions in Metro Manila, in big crowded cities.
03:32 Our Jeepneys are king of the road, reckless and disciplined drivers.
03:38 Jeepneys are not beautiful, unsafe, and passenger-unfriendly.
03:44 Their 15-year-old engines are old, dilapidated, or poorly managed.
03:51 So they need to face out this.
03:54 On the other hand, our claim, the claim of many Jeepney-made drivers, is that we need to preserve our Jeepneys.
04:04 It's not about modernizing.
04:06 Our iconic Jeepneys are Filipino-made.
04:12 This is a symbol of our culture, our art, Filipino innovation, resourcefulness, creativity, mini mechanics,
04:20 know-how to repair and overhaul, remanufacture our Jeepneys.
04:24 What they're saying is that the extended deadline of January 31 is not going to be extended.
04:33 Those who did not join the cooperatives and modernized cannot run or drive on the road.
04:41 Please explain to us, this program was launched in 2017.
04:46 That means it's been six years.
04:49 What do they want to do and why do they say that Jeepneys should not be run?
05:00 First of all, can they manufacture 300,000 Jeepneys all together in just a few days from now?
05:11 In Metro Manila, we have 70,000 Jeepneys. It will take 70 years before it's finished.
05:20 It's impossible because they cannot stop it. Otherwise, what will people drive?
05:26 Now, there are several Jeepneys that are there, modern Jeepneys, but if you notice, the iconic feature of our Jeepneys is gone.
05:35 And then of course, the requirements. These 30 blind features are what we presented in the paper,
05:44 that it should be transposed, there should be a cooperative, our Jeepneys should be consolidated,
05:51 so there should be a fleet management scheme so that they can manage.
06:00 And then, how about these Jeepneys, the financing aspect of the capital scarcism of Jeepney drivers and operators to acquire the modern Jeepneys,
06:11 which are very expensive. They said that now it's 2.8 million. In the study that we did, they said that the maximum price is up to 2.5 million.
06:23 But I did a study, competition through XL, through loan repayment. And then, another thing they're saying is that the fare will not increase, so on and so forth.
06:37 They cannot deliver 300,000 to 400,000 Jeepneys immediately. It means that the commuters without vehicles will be in danger.
06:46 So it's expensive, these modernized Jeepneys are too expensive, 2.8 million. Third, it's not sure what are the requirements to help our drivers.
07:01 So the fare will not increase. Professor, you computed a modernized Jeepney, 2.5 million pesos, but you said that the equipment and parts are imported.
07:17 Can you explain that? If it's broken and cannot be repaired by the local parts?
07:26 That's right. Our common Jeepney, our mechanics are already working on repairing it, there are a lot of spare parts.
07:39 The modern Jeepney, the engine is Euro 4. It's not sure. In fact, in Europe, they're not using Euro 4 anymore because we heard that there's a defect.
07:54 So they shipped it to Euro 6 engine. Another thing they're saying is that we will be hit by a broken engine.
08:03 If it's broken or if the engine is still okay, how will we repair our mechanics?
08:10 So there's a report that those engines are not being used anymore. One of their complaints is the route rationalization.
08:23 The LGUs have not established the routes that they will use.
08:30 They will not only phase out their Jeepney, but also their route. If they will have a route, maybe there will be less passengers.
08:41 If there are passengers, the Jeepney that they're saying now, it's not a Jeepney anymore, it's a van, a big van.
08:52 They will not be able to pass. In the provinces, they cannot use it. In the mountains, rough roads, we cannot imagine how they will run.
09:08 You also mentioned that the lifespan of this modern Jeepney is like seven years, in your estimate.
09:18 But the debt that you will pay, for example, you will borrow from the bank. Let's be clear, the government has assistance of P200,000,
09:27 but the debt of P2.5 million, when it comes to interest, it will easily reach P4 million.
09:38 Maybe in seven years, the payment period will be short-span, but your Jeepney is broken.
09:44 That's one danger. If our mechanics don't know, they will adjust. Where will they train in repairing those complicated machines?
10:00 That's one thing. We should not import modernization. So our call is to localize and homegrown our modernization, not only in the PUV,
10:16 but also in our infrastructure, our vehicles, and so on and so forth, our machinery.
10:26 Okay. Doctor, you said in your study that there is no clear parking area because these modern Jeepneys are big.
10:38 Your neighbors are fighting over where to park your modern Jeepney.
10:45 Yes. One of their requirements is fleet management. You need to have a garage. That's why they want to cooperate to manage it and so forth.
10:57 The big problem is that land is very expensive now. Where will they rent land to build a garage?
11:08 Of course, our Jeepneys, even our traditional Jeepneys, have their own problems.
11:18 They have to park their vehicles in different places and so on and so forth. But that's another big problem.
11:27 It will be bigger if they want to use modern Jeepneys. You cannot remove all of the Jeepneys now. It needs to be done slowly, progressively, there should be a transition.
11:42 You said that this program is blindsided by the impact on the massages. Why are you saying that massages will increase? The government said it won't.
11:56 That's their illusion. They can say that it won't increase, but if this is the case, it's just a simple arithmetic.
12:07 If you owe 2.5, our study says 2.5, the fee should increase to 34 or 35 pesos to pay the debt during the seven years.
12:27 For example, you can only ride a 200. If you can ride a 250, it can be up to 28 pesos per passenger. It depends.
12:45 But when I validated my calculations, the Jeepney said it's hard for us to ride a 250 or 300 passenger equivalent.
13:00 First of all, there are many alternatives for people to ride. They are not just riding. Especially if it's expensive.
13:13 If the passenger won't be charged, how can they pay their debt? In fact, many of the first ones who acquired this, they were not able to pay their debt.
13:31 That's why the DVP of Land Bank is having a problem. What will they do to the Jeepneys they owe?
13:37 They will remit.
13:38 If they will remit, it will be destroyed. What about the 2.5 billion that the DVP owed? What about the 1.5 billion that the Land Bank owed?
13:49 It's called bad debts.
13:53 It's like that.
13:58 Professor, the only thing they are looking at is the Jeepney Modernization Program is good for the environment.
14:08 They say the air will be clearer, the pollutants in the air will be reduced. But will it really be removed?
14:17 You said that the total Jeepneys in the Philippines are less than 3 percent.
14:25 If we relate it to Metro Manila, the 70,000 Jeepneys, as regards to about 2.5 million vehicles of Metro Manila, they are less.
14:38 I have done arithmetic calculations on that. We are wondering how they computed the 15 to 30 percent carbon emission that our Jeepneys emit, even if you add their emissions.
14:57 That's one of the doubts they made.
15:04 In other countries, one thing they are looking at is the emissions from private vehicles.
15:09 In the Philippines, we have a lot of vehicles that are out of date. But many people are buying new vehicles.
15:20 Maybe the private motorists are not the ones who are affected because they have more vehicles. Maybe the motorcycle riders and our pedicab drivers are the next.
15:34 That's right. There are Jeepneys that we don't accept. Don't get mad at me, Jeepney drivers and operators.
15:44 There are some Jeepneys that we are like...
15:50 Like what?
15:51 Like we are going to die. But I said that it's not the fault of the Jeepney operator or driver. Why are they still registering?
15:58 Why don't they implement the motor vehicle inspection system, if the tires are still safe, and the roof and other things.
16:13 It's a good thing. We have a lot of Jeepneys that have improved. Like here in Los Banos, I'm good and strong.
16:27 When you ride, they are not comparable to their modern Jeepneys that have air conditioning, CCTV cameras, and Wi-Fi.
16:41 Maybe they don't need that. Here in Laguna, it's not that hot.
16:47 The consumer, the passengers, should pay for the comfort, for the quality. You cannot have your cake and eat it too, so to speak.
17:00 Have you seen the government's policy? These details, for example, the income on average of Jeepney driver and operator. If you upgrade and modernize a Jeepney,
17:13 you should pay monthly for the bank loan, the income should increase. They say that it's like salary workers, our drivers under the co-op that they have to pay.
17:28 That's the change. The issue of mechanics that have the habit of fixing these modernized Jeepneys that have different parts, different equipment that are needed.
17:41 Or the production, supply chain, when will there be enough Jeepneys. For example, everything is ready, but there are no modern Jeepneys available.
17:53 Have you seen the government's policy on the details of preparation?
17:59 If there's such a study, I hope they will publish it. If they received my paper, our study that was published by UPSEEDS,
18:13 why didn't they refute our calculations, our calculations that were made. On the other hand, if they don't know how to make detailed calculations like this, we can help.
18:37 In preparation, in 2017, the program was launched. We're in 2024 now. In the past, where is the supply?
18:47 Are you not preparing? Is there no awareness program or education program, information program for drivers and operators, the LTFRB?
18:58 Drivers and operators are quiet until now that the deadline and the LTFRB is already in progress. Where is the supply? Why is the time running out?
19:10 First, let's clarify that this modernization of the PUB did not start in 2017. They've been planning this for a long time.
19:21 This is the time of Ramos. They noticed the contribution of our transport in terms of World Bank's study that pollution reduces our lifespan due to diseases and so forth.
19:45 When the omnibus guideline was issued, this was in 2017 when Secretary Tugade formalized it.
19:58 That's when a serious implementation was carried out, the JIP of modernization. The thing is, I'm also asking, I don't want to claim that I'm the only one who knows how to compute, calculate.
20:21 With computers now, Excel is there. It's easy to do calculations through Excel. Why didn't they seek guidance or whatever? Are we saying the right things?
20:43 Our drivers and operators are also caught up in the news.
20:50 They're saying that if our cars will be removed, what will happen to our life? This is our lifeline. They're saying that our goods are this expensive.
21:07 Because back then, you have P200,000, P150,000, you have a jeepney. When they improved it, it reached P500,000.
21:21 Especially those who went abroad, they said that's the reward for them. They can buy a jeepney. They don't need to go abroad anymore. They can just drive.
21:35 They're saying that the ownership of a single operator is only single unit.
21:41 Because these are our senior citizens, their livelihood is only dependent on a jeepney that they went abroad.
21:52 How can they be supported? Because the concept of cooperative is a life-changing setup.
22:02 They will just become employees.
22:06 Their claim is that since they lost their ownership of their jeepney, they will become employees and their salary is P700,000.
22:15 They don't have any income. Because if they have a jeepney, they can work for 12 hours and earn P1,000.
22:29 On the one hand, their income is not enough if they have a co-op-owned fleet management.
22:41 The cooperative, LTFRB said that almost seven out of ten drivers have signed up or are ready to join the cooperative.
22:54 Their question is, the individual member of the cooperative, before you join, you have to have an equity contribution.
23:03 You have to pay a personal stake in the cooperative.
23:10 Their second question is, who is the one who is able to pay the debt? Who is ultimately the owner of the jeepney?
23:23 Does that mean that the jeepney driver who is already an employee has no claim to the vehicle? Is that so?
23:31 The owner is a co-op. That's right. On the other hand, the big problem if the owner is a co-op, for example, the minimum unit is 15 units.
23:47 15 units at P2 million, that's P30 million. If you use P2.5, that's P37 million, roughly, and the interest is P40 million.
24:04 I asked one of the bankers, "Will you immediately lend P40 million to a cooperative that has no track record in paying?"
24:15 Even the lending is difficult. It's difficult for them to avail.
24:22 Doc Ted, the cooperative will lend to the bank on behalf of its member.
24:29 Let's say the unit has 15 members, the driver has 15 members, meaning they are already employed.
24:36 They are no longer operators. They don't have a practice, they don't have a permit of conveyance, public conveyance.
24:43 What does that mean? How about the payment every day? Does that mean there's a fee for the driver that you should deliver money every day to pay the cooperative, the bank loan? Is that so?
24:58 That's right. That's why they should earn a minimum of P6,000 or P7,000 per day for their car amortization, their salary, and other expenses.
25:21 That's why the question is, how will we earn P6,000 or P7,000 per day if the driver only earns P15,000?
25:33 Correct. It will really be an addition. What about the routes that are small?
25:40 In many places in the Philippines, outside the big cities, our metropolis, the routes are small and the passengers are few.
25:53 The problem is that it's like consolidating or monopolizing the big financiers behind cooperatives, this setup.
26:02 Do you hear about that? That's where the reluctance of some driver operators who joined the coop is rooted.
26:10 Because in reality, they are holding the financier's neck.
26:16 I heard that from the province. Like tomorrow, I will travel.
26:24 The driver's jeepney is happy because the passengers are few because there's no entry.
26:31 Correct.
26:32 That's what the students here told us.
26:34 Great.
26:35 So how will they earn?
26:37 How will they earn P7,000 or P6,000 if there are not many passengers depending on the time.
26:54 Usually, the employees and students who ride there are the ones who are popular.
27:02 Work from home is also popular now.
27:07 There's also TNBS.
27:09 For those who have money. That's what they do for convenience. You won't have to wait for a long time.
27:16 For example, our labor wage in Metro Manila has increased by P610 per day.
27:28 If you have two students studying, including you, then three.
27:33 If the labor wage is increased by P30, that's P90.
27:39 If it's increased back, it's P180.
27:41 So if you only have labor, one-third of your wage is gone.
27:46 How about food?
27:48 How did you hear the system of the employees and the jeepney drivers and operators?
27:54 How much is the salary? Is it minimum wage or it depends on their output per day?
28:01 Because it's one thing if they don't have a clear explanation.
28:05 So our drivers and operators have a lot of arguments.
28:09 Second, when you're an employee, you have a salary.
28:12 There are deductions and source.
28:15 SS, feel-health, love, and so on.
28:21 So what we're saying P610 per day, there are deductions because you need to contribute to SSS, feel-health, and love.
28:31 Don't give them R because they might not be covered.
28:34 Do you have a clear explanation or explanation to the LTFRB and drivers so that the problem of livelihood challenge will be solved?
28:42 That's the blind side. They didn't look at that angle.
28:48 The salary of the employee driver only.
28:53 So that's it.
28:57 Another thing to look at is why our drivers really don't want to face out their income.
29:10 All right.
29:12 Now, another problem if you're an employee, you should really be able to move.
29:18 Our GP drivers, in the afternoon, they go home and rest if there are not many passengers.
29:26 But if the driver is an employee, of course, there are specific working hours and fixed.
29:34 That's right.
29:36 Of course, what I see is that they should be wearing uniform, not uniform but polo,
29:44 so that our drivers will be decent.
29:49 That will add to the expenses.
29:51 This is a problem of not just a simple challenge, but the comfort zone, livelihood, and culture.
30:00 That's right.
30:03 So, that's it.
30:06 It's a bit complicated.
30:09 It's hard for them to get in.
30:13 If I were to put myself in what they're doing now, it's really not an easy job.
30:24 On the other hand, they think that they're there, that's their employment,
30:31 and they were hired to do the job.
30:34 But they were also called the hatchet man.
30:39 So, that's it.
30:42 We should not blame them because it's just work, no personality.
30:49 But it should be rational.
30:53 In our paper, this program should have a just transition.
31:00 Study what is good to do.
31:02 We recommend that from the short term, medium term, to long term,
31:08 short term, let our old jeepneys be changed, re-overhauled, and re-manufactured.
31:20 So, that's it.
31:23 And then, the LPG engine, engineers and mechanics said, is less pollutant.
31:32 Why don't they use it?
31:34 On the other hand, like the electric vehicles,
31:40 which are small, or maybe in university campuses where there are not many vehicles,
31:52 bicycles are more popular.
31:55 So, we should not blame them.
31:58 We should not blame them because it's just work, no personality.
32:11 Like in Europe and the Netherlands, bicycles are more than people. They have 1.3 bicycles per person.
32:26 So, they have more bicycles.
32:28 So, we should use all means to have a good transport.
32:35 They also said that if our roads are safe, there will be more people who will ride bikes.
32:42 Of course, we have a lot of motorbikes now,
32:48 but those are not safe because they are overtaking.
32:58 So, we need to evaluate and study this.
33:05 And look at each side, why people are refusing.
33:15 We should call the President and ask him to listen to the drivers and operators.
33:25 Of course, there is a temporary restraining order filed in the Supreme Court.
33:31 Last week, there were 10 days to comment on the petition.
33:40 It's been completed.
33:41 We hope that the Supreme Court will have a decision on that.
33:48 We will discuss the DOTR, LTFRB and whatever decision the Supreme Court will make.
33:55 I hope the Supreme Court will issue, we are not prioritizing them,
34:01 a logic dictates that the TRO should grant immediately
34:08 so that there will be no confusion if our jeepney will be in strike.
34:14 But if the government will grant the TRO,
34:21 the TRO will be able to pick up stranded passengers.
34:26 The public utility vehicle modernization program cannot be one-time issue
34:35 in the middle of other issues of our transportation sector.
34:39 So, doesn't the DOTR have a comprehensive program
34:49 that the PUB modernization is in line with other reforms and initiatives in the transport sector?
34:57 When the new government came in, I don't understand why the President
35:03 immediately listened to the petition and said that until January 31,
35:12 he did not explain what will happen to ordinary people who will be stranded.
35:20 If that will be phased out, how will we replace that?
35:25 They will say that they will request a lot of vehicles, trucks, etc.
35:33 Is that sustainable? Will the government sustain that?
35:38 Because at the rate that the jeepney is manufactured, it's just like that.
35:45 They should look at the rate of manufacture, how many jeepneys can be assembled and manufactured.
35:56 The next day, our jeepney drivers and operators will have a strike.
36:01 What is your message to them?
36:03 If this is a family issue, it seems like they have no choice.
36:10 But the government is not listening. The deadline for January 31,
36:15 the President said it should be extended to the end of the year.
36:20 Is this a showdown? What is your solution?
36:25 They just want to express their feelings.
36:31 Constitutionally safeguarded is freedom of expression.
36:38 The problem is, you can't avoid trouble.
36:44 Of course, our police force is maximum tolerant, but we don't know what will happen.
36:51 So, the risk factor. I hope no one will be hurt, no one will be in trouble, etc.
36:59 That's why I hope the President can pre-empt the Supreme Court's decision.
37:11 They said that what I said is not an order of the king, it will not be violated.
37:22 He can say that if we made a mistake, if I made a mistake, please forgive me.
37:29 We will study the implications of the phaseout to you,
37:36 that you will be in jail until January 31 because we know that many will be hurt because it's your lifeline,
37:45 your family's life, you have children to educate, etc. So what will happen?
37:52 I have a quick question. The franchises that were given and are still valid,
37:58 does that mean all of them are erased? The franchises initiated by LTFRB?
38:04 Because in the modernization program, the mandate is to be cooperative and modernize the jeepney that you will use.
38:13 But there are still franchises that are alive or valid?
38:17 Those that are not part of the consolidated cooperative, those franchises are terminated.
38:28 That's what they mean. They have a circular memorandum.
38:35 Again, that's why the TRO is needed because it has a constitutionality implication.
38:49 Our prayer now is that our president will return to his first statement that I said,
39:04 the king's order will not be ignored. He's not a king.
39:07 He was entrusted by the people to lead our country so that everyone can be helped.
39:14 So that those who will not have a Supreme Court,
39:21 this is an executive decision. The Supreme Court will say that it is by implication that you are doing wrong.
39:31 That's why you are taking it. That's not a good implication.
39:35 So it's better for the president to be the first to preach.
39:43 Okay. What you said is important. The king's order can also be ignored.
39:49 There is no order that will not be ignored if it is right.
39:52 LTFRB should be taught and the details should be clear.
39:57 And what you said is important, modernization should be based on local resources and personal capacities.
40:08 Who doesn't want modernization? Who doesn't want a safe and clean vehicle?
40:17 We all want that. But let's see if we can't find anything wrong with modernization.
40:30 Okay. That's all. Let's listen. Thank you very much.
40:37 Thank you very much, Dr. Ted Mendoza. Your messages are important.
40:43 I hope that all the judges and the king's order can be listened to and it can be ignored.
40:50 Thank you very much for your interview with me. We have talked about this important topic.
41:01 Thank you.