News

Solon calls for crackdown on poorly-maintained jeepneys, buses

With public-utility-vehicle drivers and operators set to receive an additional P200 million in subsidies from the government in light of the rising cost of fuel, a lawmaker is calling on them to reciprocate by diligently maintaining their vehicles to ensure the safety of their passengers.

"Proper vehicle maintenance should be a prerequisite for securing a franchise to operate a public-transport system. Public-transport operators have the utmost obligation to protect the safety of their passengers," said Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas. Trenas also serves as the chairperson for the House committee on good government and public accountability.

Stressing that safety is a very serious factor in public transport, the lawmakers said government regulatory agencies should strictly conduct regular inspections on how buses, taxis and other public-utility vehicles are maintained.

According to Trenas, public-utility-transport operators have been negligent in ensuring the safety of their vehicles as they bemoaned the skyrocketing price of fuel. Trenas also noted the rampant use of recapped or secondhand tires and spare parts, which only exposes the riding public to graver risks.

"It's the ultimate responsibility of the operators to ensure the safety of their passengers," Trenas added. "Maybe it's about time that we also look into the maintenance problem of public utilities like buses and jeepneys. Vehicular accidents are on the rise resulting in the loss of lives and damage to property."

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  • budoy Mar 27 2012 @ 05:17pm
     
    Isama na dapat dito ang batas sa pag impound ng mga bulok at direhistradong sasakyan na nakaparada lang sa mga kalye. karamihan kasi dito ay malakas sa barangay-mga botante ni chairman at kagawad ..
       
  • JoHunter Mar 27 2012 @ 06:12pm
     
    Poorly maintained jeepneys - that would be all of them. I don't care if some people still consider the jeepney part of national identity. It needs to go.
        3
    • art Mar 27 2012 @ 06:16pm
       
      Easy for you to say.
          2
      • JoHunter Mar 27 2012 @ 06:25pm
         
        We already have a lot of alternatives in place, and jeepneys have already become redundant due to other means of public transport. Look around, they practically do nothing but clog the streets and belch black smoke into the air.
            1
        • art Mar 27 2012 @ 06:43pm
           
          What kind of alternatives are you talking about sir? The government cannot even maintain the LRT/MRT system. Personally, I also want the jeeps to be replaced with a more efficient system but as of now, only our politicians have the power to do that. That is if they want to.
             
          • gasoline_boy Mar 27 2012 @ 07:02pm
             
            Alternatives like walking ata alam nya.. hehe.. yeah seriously what alternatives? sad to admit but we just cant afford to park our delapidated jeepneys..
                1
    • mgr366 Mar 28 2012 @ 06:20am
       
      i have to agree with you that jeepneys and tricycles have to go. the government must step in and do something about setting up alternatives like VANS, AUVS replacing the jeepneys...
         
    • rockyroad Mar 28 2012 @ 07:58am
       
      I agree with you sir..almost all of the jeepneys aren't safe due to lack of maintenance even some of the AUV's and FX taxi's, include in this is the undisciplined and maliciously educated PUV drivers..alternative just like using bicycle should be encourage to the public just like in other countries.
         
    • walphie Mar 28 2012 @ 09:35am
       
      What we need is a standardized, modular small-PUV design, not hobbled-together-with-surplus-parts jeepneys.

      The government can lead the design process. Commission a generic, modular design of key components (like frame and suspension, safety features, even powertrains like diesel and electric) which will then be made available to be produced by parts manufacturers. The design should be cost competitive with surplus/GI sheet jeepneys. Assemblers will be free to offer powertrain options, ranging from diesel (probably locally-built Isuzu and Mitsu engines), electric, and LPG, as well as variations on body designs, or even amenities like air conditioning or electronics.

      To offset any price increases, government lending agencies or even private lenders can be tasked to provide financing options to potential 'new' jeepney operators.

      People in Tsikot have been talking about this (PhUV) for years. Until a compelling competitive option to jeepneys arrive, nobody will be abandoning surplus-assembled jeepneys anytime soon. The e-jeeps are a start, maybe to get parts manufacturers to get their feet wet, but the whole thing sorely needs help and more marketing. E-jeeps are limited to urban use, too, compared with 'traditional' jeepneys that can rough it out in gravel and unpaved roads, as well as wade through some water.
         
  • jesslink Mar 27 2012 @ 09:33pm
     
    Kailangan pa bang papelan to ng mga mambabatas? o sadyang umeepal lang sila...andyan ang LTO/DOTC...trabaho nila to! ano pakaang kaang o nagkakamot lang ng Y.....s nila? Nasa by laws and regulations nila to!!!
       
  • mgr366 Mar 28 2012 @ 06:18am
     
    i really do think that jeepneys and tricycles should be phased out already. its bad for the environment, lack of safety features and insurance. I sure do hope that the Government would address the transportation and how they would be able to provide jobs to drivers that would be affected.
       
  • jabroni Mar 28 2012 @ 08:34am
     
    Can the government also subsidize the fuel loss private vehicles endure whenever those jeepneys stop wherever they want? I think that would be more beneficial to most of us.
       
  • jabroni Mar 28 2012 @ 08:41am
     
    With the very bad urban plan already established in NCR and with the high prices of imported cars in our country I don't think jeepneys will become extinct on our roads. Provinces can still be jeepney free someday imho.
       
  • roadrage Mar 28 2012 @ 09:34am
     
    Jeepney operators...greedy bas***ds!! Tigas ng mukha nila mgtranspo-strike para makahingi ng fare hike!!! Ayaw na ayaw malugi. Jeep nilang bulok di maayos ayos. Dyan sa espanya pansinin nyo maraming tumatakbong kalawang na may gulong. Parang sinusunog na goma ang exhaust!! Grabe na to..

    Jeepney drivers... most unprofessional drivers in the wold!! Driving style nila worst in the wold - kadyot, arangkada bigla, sabay preno sagad! conduct nila..ah ewan cant find the right word. Singit ng singit walang paki akala mo sa kanila daan. Minsan sumakay ako jeep, tumigil sa gitna ng daan, syempre nagbusina yung private vehicles sa likod, aba! sya pang galit, nagmura pa! Pak shet Bro, only in the Philippines!

    Gobyerno... Epal magaling lang sa salita! Luma na style yan. malapit na election kaya kanya kanya na naman papogi..

       
  • GranForza Mar 28 2012 @ 12:46pm
     
    ang dapat isubsidize ng govt yung mga jeep na dapat nag aaverage ng atleast 10km/liter at ndi mausok, the rest irequire na na magpalit ng engine,
       
  • FadeAwayDunk Apr 03 2012 @ 07:53pm
     
    Electric Jeep and Electric tryicycle na lang para buong Pilipinas. Less air and noise pollution. Less accident din siguro kasi mas mabagal?
       
  • KERSMcPherson 11 months ago
     
    dapat yata kailangan ng batas para mapatupad ang mga bulok na batas.

    halos lahat ng jeep ay patapon na. nabibilang sa daliri ang maayos.
       
  • engineerangelo 9 months ago
     
    Tama yan. Dapat may nagmomonitor talaga sa kalsada. And dapat icheck muna yung mga conditions ng mga sasakyan bago irenew yung rehistro. Nakakahiya sa mga bisita natin na foreigners. Sa kalsada pa lang kasi makikita mo na kung anong klaseng government meron tayo eh. Ang daming mga jeep na hindi gumagana yung ilaw sa likod, walang signal light. Dun pa lang makikita na natin na walang initiative yung govt agency eh. Pero with regards naman sa smoke belching, nakikita ko naman yung improvement. Bihira na lang ako makakita ng umuusok, hindi katulad dati kahit san ka magpunta. Pero there's still room for improvement. Yung jeepney, I think dapat may standard na sundin. Dapat pumasa sa certain standards na ito bago magoperate. At mas maganda siguro kung may unified design. Mas maganda tingnan kung pare-parehas ang itsura para wala nang mga bulok na tumatakbo pa rin.
       
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