[EXCLUSIVE POV] June 17, 2017 marked the official rollout of the PUV Modernization Program in the Philippines.
Seven years later, Modesto “Mody” Floranda, national president of PISTON, maintains that while modernization may sound good on paper, in practice, it has left thousands of jeepney drivers and operators behind.
“Pagkawala ng kabuhayan ng libo-libo—hindi lang isangdaan o dalawangdaan. Mga driver at operator ang nawalan ng hanapbuhay, kundi maraming nawalan ng hanapbuhay,” Floranda revealed.
In 2018, the government began requiring operators to consolidate into cooperatives or corporations — stripping away individual franchise rights. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, worsening an already difficult transition. From around 300,000 operational jeepneys nationwide, that number dropped to less than half.
“'Yung ibang mga driver na dating nagmamaneho ay sa ngayon ay nasa construction. Yung iba naman ay lumipat sa tricycle, at yung iba naman ay umuwi na ng kanilang mga probinsya at nagsaka na lang,” he added.
Floranda asserts that this version of “modernization” is less about improving public transport and more about opening the doors to big business.
According to Department of Transportation data, only 39.9% of franchise consolidation applications have been approved. Congress also reported that just 14,000 modern PUVs are running across the country. Worse, 60% of existing operators reportedly cannot keep up with loan payments.
“Batay mismo sa bagong secretary ng DOTr, ay almost 39.9 lang o 39.3% yung naaprubahan. Ibig sabihin n'yan kahit na nag-apply ka, hindi 100% na makakapagrehistro.”
Even in the face of economic loss and uncertainty, Floranda said drivers and operators have stood their ground. From 2017 to 2024, PISTON has staged nearly 10 nationwide transport strikes — demanding not the end of progress, but a fair and inclusive path forward.
He warns that forcing out traditional jeepneys will ultimately hurt commuters, with projected minimum fares rising to ₱30 or even ₱40.
And he questions where the government’s priorities really lie:
“Sa ngayon, naglaan ang ating gobyerno ng P28 billion sa ilalim ng CAR sa programa nila. Binigyan nila ng malaking budget yung mga Toyota at Suzuki, pero yung Francisco at yung sa Route na body builder natin, hindi man lang natapunan kahit lima.”
Floranda also pointed to environmental data, noting that jeepneys contribute only 2% of transport emissions — raising the question: why target them so aggressively?
His message to the government is clear:
“Ang itinutulak talaga natin sa gobyerno, kung talagang gusto n’yong ayusin ang ating public transport, dapat hindi inuna ng gobyerno yung pagpi-phaseout. Dapat ang inuna ng gobyerno yung pagke-create ng sarili nating industriya para tayo mismo yung lumikha ng ating public transport.”
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