Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   Yohan Yukiya Sese Cuneta 사요한🦣 (youronlyone@c.im)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 11:21:46 JST Yohan Yukiya Sese Cuneta 사요한🦣

   This month, June, I was able to try this government project called “Jeepney modernization program”.

   For those not in the #Philippines, the government is forcing jeepney drivers to buy a mini-bus that most of them can't afford.

   It's not really a “Jeepney modernization”, it is a “Jeepney replacement” program.

   The mini-buses? They are low quality products. Oftentimes, the mini-bus's airconditioning is broken, or the cooling is.

   There are no windows to open either, so you're stuck inside inhaling everyone else's breath, while it's getting hotter and hotter because there's no ventilation.

   That's strike two. Definitely not “modernization” because its worse than an open jeepney which provide ventilation.

   Luckily, there are still some cities where their LGU is not forcing the drivers to “modernize”. But the question is, how long can LGUs shield them from the National Government?

   “Jeepney Modernization Program” is actually “Replace the jeepneys with low-quality mini-buses Program”

   • Embed this notice
     Jonathan Emmesedi (jemmesedi@c.im)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 11:24:49 JST Jonathan Emmesedi

     in reply to

     @youronlyone This sounds misguided. I thought that the jeepney wasan emblem of the Philippines, just as the balck cab and red double decker are emblems of London.

   • Embed this notice
     Yohan Yukiya Sese Cuneta 사요한🦣 (youronlyone@c.im)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 11:26:49 JST Yohan Yukiya Sese Cuneta 사요한🦣

     in reply to

     There was one day when I was so pissed, I just literally blurted out inside the mini-bus:

     “Jeepney modernization program kuno. Binentahan naman sila mga walang kwentang mini-bus.”

     I bet there were supporters of the program, but in that situation, they knew they cannot defend the program with the kind of mini-bus we're in. (Though I was waiting for them to speak up, I was so pissed that time that I was in the mood to argue.)

   • Embed this notice
     Yohan Yukiya Sese Cuneta 사요한🦣 (youronlyone@c.im)'s status on Sunday, 30-Jun-2024 11:50:36 JST Yohan Yukiya Sese Cuneta 사요한🦣

     in reply to

     • Jonathan Emmesedi

     @jemmesedi Yep, that too!

     There were many modern jeepney designs since the late 90s, but they all did not last because they did not get support from the government (and it's more expensive of course than regular jeepneys).

     Instead of tapping those inventors, they chose a mini-bus. (Or, maybe they did but those inventors refused, or have moved on, after what they've experienced.)

     There was even a design of a jeepney that is part mini-bus. I've only seen it between 2013 to 2018, plying along Buendia Ave. It was the best design I've seen. It was still a jeep, but sized up to be like a mini-bus. Sadly, that too disappeared.