Though their support is significant, one can hardly see how the business community can help stir public support for the jeepney modernization program given that most, if not all, of its leaders aren’t exactly commuters themselves.
Still, given that they are major contributors to the economy, the business community specifically here in Cebu can probably lend their influence to operators of the passenger jeepneys whose passengers comprise their biggest customers.
A lot of malls, fast-food chains and businesses often see to it that they have terminals for these passenger jeepneys, also known as public utility jeepneys (PUJs), which remain a constant, if somewhat recently unreliable, mode of mass transport owing to the constant strikes and their aging functionality.
The show of support came amid a presentation by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) about the government’s jeepney modernization program which seeks to enable operators to avail of better-equipped, more environment-friendly units at an affordable price scheme.
And affordable it is since these operators need not make the 5 percent down payment for their improved units, which have solar panels that would reduce their dependence on diesel fuel and lessen pollution at the same time.
The government’s 5-6-7 loan program for operators consists of the 5 percent down payment, a 6 percent annual interest and a seven-year payment period.
Minus the down payment to be settled by the government, operators need only pay for their units within seven years at six percent. Given the high possibility of delinquency on the part of operators, we wonder how this program will succeed.
We also wonder why, given these conditions, the operators, especially those belonging to the militant leftist side, are still warning the riding public that they will be forced to raise their fare rates in order to pay for their units.
And they’re not even accepting alternative livelihood from the government, insisting on their old ways and to continue operating their aging, smoke-belching units that are fit to be dismantled and converted into scrap metal at the nearest junkyard.
These operators who are making a profit at the expense of their passengers are insisting to continue using their units even if they face the possibility of running out of business two months from now when the jeepney modernization program is expected to take into effect.
It remains to be seen just how many jeepney operators will abide with the government’s modernization program or if there are any who will join. Or if sprucing up the jeepneys will help in any way to decongest traffic.
The Duterte administration isn’t backing down from implementing their jeepney modernization program. Its success will be heavily dependent on whether or not the commuters are on board with their initiative.
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