Jeepney operator Fernando "Ka Bong" Datu continues to lose jeepneys in the 2020s decade, recently due to the government's PUV modernization program.

Once he had a fleet of around 50 jeepneys. It was halved during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then now he is letting go of five more due to the high cost of the PUV modernization program.

They chopped down the five jeepneys for either spare parts of their remaining fleet or sold some of the high-value parts such as stainless steel ones.

"Yun nga po, hindi na po namin nai-consolidate sa gobyerno, kaya etong ginawa namin kinatay na lang namin yung jeep, e kasi malaki na din aabutin namin, babayaran namin utang sa LTFRB, tapos sa LTO, penalty, tapos yung rehistro pa po, tapos i-consolidate, malaki laki na yung aabutin," Datu said.

Keeping some of the jeeps whole after the deadline for consolidation feels risky for Datu, as the jeeps stop on May 1, parking may spill over to the streets and possibly incur impounding and more fines.

Datu cites a near impounding scenario the previous day: "Opo, dito lang sa labas kumain yung driver, iniwan lang po saglit, rerakerin na po sana kahapon. Buti mabait naman (yung mag raker), baka maimpound pa, magbabayad pa po kami ng 7.5k, minsan nakukuha namin ng 6.5k, pahirapan pa po yun."

With the current predicament of Datu, he hears the anxiety of his drivers moving forward.

"Nag aalala po sila, nag aalala sila sa kabuhayan nila, e kamukha niyan may mga anak sila, dyan kumukuha ng pagkain sa pag mamaneho. Kahit sa init ng araw tukloy sila ng biyahe, kahit po nagkakasakit, para lang makakain yung kanilang pamilya," he said.

READ: DOLE offers livelihood grants to jeepney drivers who refuse to 'consolidate'