Amidst repression, injustice, and crisis: working women, rise up!

Amidst repression, injustice, and crisis: working women, rise up!

Warm greetings to all working women whose contributions brought significant changes in the society, and now in one with the masses in its struggle for better political, social and economic change.

 As every year the role of women in all spheres of life of society increases, this message may first sound ideal especially in a time old issues like exploitation, oppression, inequality, darkness and ignorance still continues to prevail even in this ever modern times- especially amid the rapidly worsening economic crisis marked by a sharp fall in standards of living of millions. That sweatshop labour, white slavery, low wages and less benefits, to that of harassments and various forms of injustices remains a problem towards women in particular and in working people in general. 

 But, this doesn’t hamper the growing struggle as various forms of actions, be it in the halls of congress to that of the streets demand fairness and justice at home, school, markets, and in the workplace: They must vehemently demand immediate rollbacks in the costs of fuel, food, and other necessities, as well as jobs, livelihoods, higher wages and better workplaces, land, the abolition of land rent, higher farmgate prices, lower taxes, a halt to complete import liberalisation, and other necessary actions. 

 Furthermore this day also commemorates women heroes who, with their contributions and sacrifices in the field outweigh their hardships and pain all in promoting and fighting for a just society where women contribute in all spheres. That with all their lives defending theirs and the people’s welfare and interests and resisting policies that worsen their oppression their heroism serves as an inspiration to many in the face of systemic oppression with its brazen acts of state terrorism in its desperation to silence the people and secure its power. 

 Hence, with their contributions these make way for women to rise up in greater numbers, of organising in communities and in workplaces, carrying just calls, and making way to a new and dynamic generation who will dutifully carry the torches of struggle all for national and social liberation.

“In solidarity with the Jeepney drivers against sham ‘modernisation’”

“In solidarity with the Jeepney drivers against sham ‘modernisation’”

Kat Ulrike

On this first day of the statewide transportation strike, this note stands with the people in support of the jeepney drivers. Drivers, operators, and even concerned commuters alike appeal to the government to heed their pleas not to take away their source of income but rather to rehabilitate their vehicles, restore their routes lost during the pandemic, and offer urgent and just support. 

From the start, the “Jeepney Modernisation Program” is an object of ridicule despite its supposed “benefit”. By claiming that the program would improve road-based mass transportation, this is obviously a corporate phase-in wherein interests in the transportation sector, in connivance with banks and self-proclaimed concerned public officials trying to exploit the situation, be it reasons of the environment, safety, “traffic” control, but obviously to rake profits and control routes if necessary. 

It's true that the drivers wanted a new, modern jeepney to replace that of the old ones, but given the high costs of each modernised vehicle and the fact that the drivers are primarily still recovering from the pandemic, they cannot afford these expensive vehicles, whereas commuters will pay more out of their own pocket when fares go up. Forcing to set up “cooperatives”, no matter it appears beneficial according to its supporters doesn’t suffice the problem, as drivers themselves still cannot afford 2.5-2.8 million worth of “modern jeepneys” even with measly-funded installments. 

Furthermore, the expensive vehicles made available by this modernisation program, the majority of which are minibuses from China, simply benefited the profiteers stated above using "modernisation" as an excuse, while undermining the ability of local jeepney assemblers to produce vehicles that meet the standards offered by the program, whether they be new safety standards or engine requirements. Companies like Francisco Motors, Sarao offered their own local alternatives, yet authorities continue to cling to their imported “alternative” that affects not just the driver, operator, and the commuter- but also the assembler who tries to improve the Philippines’s “king of the road”.

Supporters of the program may still cling to the thought that their concept of modernisation “benefit everyone” regardless of its problems, but the realities behind the program doesn’t stop the concerned from its prevailing worriness as drivers and operators, still trying to recover from the pandemic, wanting first to regain their lost franchises for their livelihood. 

And to think that this note supports the objective of giving people access to cost-effective, efficient, safe, secure, and efficient modes of transportation, this change must be open to everybody, just, and focused on people. Key stakeholders should be recognised by the government as collaborators in developing and executing programs, policies, and solutions linked to urban mobility. It is not sufficient to just confer with them on modernisation issues.

“Towards a sound transportation modernisation program that benefit all stakeholders”

“Towards a sound transportation modernisation program 

that benefit all stakeholders”

Thoughts on the recent Jeepney strike 

This note at first supports the struggles of the Jeepney drivers, operators, as well as passengers who supported the recent strike in response to the one-sided “modernisation plan”. 

The government has been adamant about modernizing public transportation, but they have forgotten that having modern, improved, clean and sustainable transportation should entail more than just having new and modern engines as well as better fleets. Such attempts without considering today’s state of jeepney drivers and operators, nor its inclusivity in its plan will simply lead to unemployment and loss of livelihood as well as lessen the number of public transport options to the commuting public especially at a time when the country is still reeling from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

For both operators and drivers, as they are still attempting to recover from the recent coronavirus pandemic and want to regain their lost routes and franchises cannot afford to gain such expensive “modern” jeepneys. Furthermore, the increasing prices of oil and other commodities even hinder them from buying as such, forcing them to choose between immediate needs and thar of expensive “modern jeepneys” sponsored by bureaucrats and profiteers alike. The latter even insisted that drivers and operators alike should form cooperatives, but this doesn’t suffice the problem of resolving their livelihoods if not obviously making them exploited by interest seekers using jeepney modernisation as its alibi. 

Additionally, proponents of the modernisation program assert that they want to modernize mass transportation in order to provide clean transportation networks as aging jeepneys themselves are a source of smoke spewing and pollution. But the solutions they are putting forth simply do not deal with structural problems in the urban and transportation systems. They only represent a change from an older, polluting technology to a more modern one that benefits affording few at the expense of the have nots. 

True that both drivers and operators, as well as passengers wished for modern, safe, and improved mass transportation systems, and even see and hear their calls for inclusion in transport system planning. But this one sided, anti-poor “Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program” (PUVMP) doesn’t resolve but instead aggravate the problem regarding mass transport as it benefits entrenched interests- that even local jeepney assemblers, who willing to take part in a modernisation program are also sidelined in favour of importers whose expensive, imported “jeepneys” from China disregarded chances of improving, if not developing a still young local mass transport industry that’s beneficial to all stakeholders especially drivers and operators. 

Thus, in order to be effective and equitable, any plan to improve the transportation system must be a component of a larger effort to make the urban setting more livable, and people must be the primary focus of those efforts. All stakeholders should be included in such idea that’s driven by the desire to improve mass transportation without leaving behind vulnerable sectors. Urban mobility inequities should be addressed by exploring outside of the realms of technology, infrastructure, and even rules. As well as must consider on how to incorporate mobility equity into urban planning and development.