MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday vowed to buy the old jeepney units of drivers and operators who failed to consolidate as part of the Public Transport Modernization Program.

DOTr Undersecretary Andy Ortega said the agency aims to be able to buy the jeepneys that are no longer roadworthy for a higher price than they are currently being sold for in junk shops.

“Definitely, we will go to try to make it more para at least makatulong tayo dito sa ating mga hindi consolidated. Idadaan sa gobyerno, sa isang kumpanya accredited by the government, so it will be done and processed properly,” said Ortega in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

Ortega’s statement comes amid a rising number of traditional jeepney units being sold for scraps in junk shops in Metro Manila.

In Tondo in Manila, junk shop worker Joseph Carbonel said they have chopped up about 50 jeepneys since the start of 2024.

“Halos araw-araw po kami nagkakatay. Minsan nakakakuha pa po kami ng Laguna, Cavite, kahit saan po. Basta yung naphe-phaseout na jeep na hindi na kaya talaga,” said Carbonel.

According to Carbonel, they bought the old jeepney unit they were disassembling Thursday afternoon for P38,000. But the price could go as high as P50,000 if the engine and the tires are still in good condition and could be reused.

He said he doesn’t ask too many questions when a jeepney operator or driver sells their unit to him, but he said it was obvious that they were torn up about it.

“Nakakaawa din po sila kasi nagbebenta sila ng jeep, eh mahal na mahal po nila yung jeep nila tapos mapupunta lang sa kinakatay. Eh kami, trabaho lang po, sabi ko,” said Carbonel.

But while some have given up their livelihoods as jeepney drivers or operators, there are others that still refuse to give up.

TRANSPORT STRIKE

Members of Manibela held another transport strike on Thursday to express their continued opposition to the modernization program.

Jerry Ignacio, a jeepney driver and operator, was among those who did not ply his route in Punta-Quiapo-Divisoria in Manila.

"Hindi ho kami nanghihinayang kung di kami makabiyahe sa maiksing panahon na yan. Ang mas mahalaga po maipaglaban namin ang aming karapatan,” he said.

After hearing about the strike, second year college student Carmela Santos decided to catch a ride at past 9 in the morning even though her class was still in the afternoon.

“Lalo na ngayon lagi nga pong may protest, madalas po wala na pong masakyan. Kaya dapat madalas maaga pumasok para di ma-late,” shared Santos.

While the rush hours became a bit more hectic, authorities on the ground say the strike did not have a signficant impact on public transportation, as there were many jeepneys that continued to operate.

According to the LTFRB’s latest estimate, 81 percent of public utility jeepneys nationwide have consolidated already. And LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz said only 10 percent, or roughly about 600 jeepney units, are not consolidated in Metro Manila.

But Manibela Chairman Mar Valbuena doubts this is true.

“Dito sa NCR, nasa 20,000 mahigit na units ang hindi nag consolidate. Mali ang mga datos na binibigay nila dahil kung tama ang datos, walang mapaparalisado na mga pasahero,” said Valbuena.

He said Manibela will continue its transport strike Friday.