Tigil Pasada
The Effect of the Nationwide Lockdown on Traditional Jeepney Drivers
As the streets of Manila slowly regain life, thousands of jeepney drivers are still missing from these streets and left without means for income. Mass public transportation was suspended from operation in areas under lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but as the country has very slowly been getting back on their feet, jeepney drivers are still left unable to operate.
55 modernised jeepneys with Euro-4 engines have been permitted to return to their services. On the other hand, traditional jeepneys have been hindered from their services as government officials insist that social distancing is impossible due to the close proximity of passengers. In order to continue operations, jeepney drivers will have to apply for a special permit from the Land Transportation Franchising Board (LTFRB). The process involves getting clearances from each town or city covered by their route and being part of a cooperative or corporation, among others. Government officials claim that traditional jeepneys may resume services when their modernised counterparts are proven inadequate for the demands of commuters.
Several jeepney drivers all across Manila have expressed their outrage and continue to demand for government support. Among these are the “Piston 6”, six jeepney drivers from the transport group PISTON who held a “Balik Pasada” protest in Caloocan on June 2, 2020 and were consequently arrested on grounds of violating social distancing rules and “resistance” to their arrest. They have since been released on bail, but the legality of banning rallies should be questioned. The lack of support jeepney drivers have been receiving from the government most especially during the lockdown should be questioned.
The nationwide lockdown hits the hardest on poorer sectors of the Philippines as jeepney drivers have lost as much as P78,000 since March. Many have turned to begging on the streets just to feed themselves and their families. Jeepney drivers have carried the nation on their back and the government has done little to nothing to ease their load. Now more than ever, they need the support of the Filipino people. We cannot forget that jeepney drivers work nonstop twelve hours a day and have serviced approximately 9 million trips to Manila. We cannot amount to the relationships and livelihoods they have kept afloat. We cannot neglect their services and the little they receive in return.
Jeepney drivers have the right to demand support. They have carried the nation on their backs while authorities have done little to support their load. The prioritised operation of modernised jeepneys when traditional jeepney drivers are left unemployed and without concrete financial aid is a blatant step towards jeepney phaseout during a time where the Filipino people are most vulnerable. The government needs to put the welfare of our service workers and the general public first before their agendas. The pandemic is not and never will be an opportunity to cease. Not at the expense of the backbone of our nation.
To find out how you can support our jeepney drivers:
parasapinas.carrd.co
parapoproject.carrd.co
Piston Transportation Group: https://www.facebook.com/PistonTransport/
Paray Kay Manong: https://www.facebook.com/ParaKayManong/
Tulong Kabataan Network: https://twitter.com/TulongKab/status/1273237129011752960?s=20
Email: tulongkabataan@gmail.com
Twitter thread for donations: https://twitter.com/TulongKab/status/1273237129011752960?s=20
Sofie Andal is a 17-year old College student from the Philippines, and contributor to the Of The People publication. If you’d like to have your work featured in our platform (whether visual or text), you may send in a submission to our email here.
