Group eyes fixed salaries for jeepney drivers

MANILA, Philippines — A transport group seeks to set a system in which public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers will earn fixed salaries instead of commissions from the current “boundary system.”

The 1-United Transport Koalisyon Alliance (1-UTAK) said it will also distribute 10,000 “beep-jeeps,” which comply with European emission standards as mandated by the government’s transportation modernization program, in three years.

1-UTAK chairman Vigor Mendoza II said 200 beep-jeeps are now operating in Cebu City; Iloilo; Antipolo, Rizal; Marikina City; Baguio City; and Quezon City under a fleet management system that operates garages with mechanics and dispatchers.

 He said drivers can earn up to P32,000 monthly under the 1-UTAK system but they have to undergo strict training and tests as well as surprise drug testing and values formation seminars.

 Mendoza said the group is the first to implement a fleet management system using Euro-4 compliant diesel engines as mandated by the Department of Transportation’s public utility vehicle modernization program.

 He said at least six million passengers will benefit from the program if the target beep-jeep deployment is achieved.

 He said passengers who rode the Beep-Jeeps gave positive reviews, particularly on the attitude of drivers, based on their posts on social media.

Plea to raise minimum fare

 1-Utak also yesterday said it will file a petition for certiorari if the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will not bring back the minimum for commuter jeepneys at P10.

Mendoza said they will file a petition seeking a review before the court if the regulatory body will not heed the request of transport groups for the minimum fare to be brought back to P10 from P9.

LTFRB executive director Samuel Jardin nixed calls from jeepney operators and drivers for an increase, saying they would only increase the base fare to P10 if the price of diesel would go up to P46.

This did not sit well with Mendoza as the prices of diesel now hover at P43 per liter.

Zenaida Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, said drivers are already suffering from the recent oil price hikes as the base fare has been at P9 since December last year.

“It is too much if the drivers have to wait until (diesel prices reach) P46,” she said in Filipino.       – With Emmanuel Tupas