Many will lose their livelihoods – operators, drivers, barkers, and food stall owners. Commuters will miss work, school, business or medical appointments. Imagine the chaos that may yet turn to riots if wrong decisions are made on this modernization conundrum.
The modernization program offers safer, comfortable and healthy travel, freer from toxic dust and smoke pollutants. This advantage is undeniable. The comely attraction is offset, however, by the reduction of public transport in the process, if the cost and availability issues are not resolved.
But there may be a way out.
Because the government is the one proposing the program, it ought to shoulder the burden of realizing it. It should take the bull by its horns.
For instance, the government may invest in the production of the modern jeepney units; give jeepney operators the privilege to trade in their old units (which could be recycled into steel materials needed in unit fabrication), the balance of which may be paid in a soft loan scheme, say, of longer payment period.
Indeed, it is to everyone’s advantage if the government would take the front in implementing the modernization program. It has access to capital from its own reserves or from international financing facilities.[]