Jeepney cooperative cites benefits of PUV modernization program

The Manila Times

Jeepney cooperative cites benefits of PUV modernization program  Pagunova Transport and Multi-Purpose Service Cooperative Chairman Leonard Bautista says that income from both traditional and modern jeepneys, consolidated or unconsolidated, is almost the same. However, fleet maintenance, among other benefits, within a consolidated cooperative is a plus compared to individual franchises.   Video and interview by Ezrah Raya  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes  #exclusiveinterview #reeltimes #jeepney

Transcript

00:00 I'm Ezra Raya and this is the Manila Times. 97 percent or 21,000 out of the 22,000 of the public

00:08 utility vehicles or PUVs in Metro Manila have already consolidated and that's 76 percent

00:15 nationwide. These include Jeepneys, UV Express shuttles who have complied with the demands of

00:21 the highly disputed PUV modernization program. However, based on latest data by the LTFRB,

00:29 more than 300 Jeepney routes in Metro Manila alone remain without consolidated entities.

00:35 They earlier said that by January 31st, Jeepneys or cooperatives or PUV groups who have not yet

00:42 consolidated may no longer ply their routes come February 1st. However, transport regulators

00:49 assures the public that they will provide necessary transport for all commuters.

00:55 Here with us today is Leonard Bautista, chairman of Pagunova Transport and Multipurpose Service

01:02 Cooperative, one of the Jeepney groups who have consolidated. Welcome to the Manila Times, sir.

01:08 Sir Leonard, you are one of the Jeepney cooperatives. Let's start with how many are in your fleet,

01:19 how many members are in your cooperative and how many vehicles, modern vehicles or traditional

01:27 vehicles are in your fleet? Yes, our members are about 200 plus.

01:35 We have 74 units, 44 of them are modernized. We have 16 units. So the majority of our members

01:48 are willing to modernize. Our driver is almost 180. Our co-driver is 90. So the rest are our

02:03 personal operators. So for you, the majority of your vehicles are modern Jeepneys. This is what we

02:12 see, a modern Jeepney, the mini bus-like shape with the aircon inside. So all of your members,

02:22 those modern Jeepneys or vehicles, are owned by the cooperative, not each member?

02:33 That's right. What the members did was wrong. They consolidated and agreed to work together.

02:41 But our units and franchises are owned by all of us. So the cooperative owns the members.

02:51 So all of us are owners and the business we are building, all of us are businessmen.

02:58 That's what the majority of our Jeepneys are fighting for. Before, they were micro entrepreneurs

03:05 because they own their own Jeepneys and franchises. So here in the cooperative,

03:12 for you, all of you are owners. So sir, I'll just ask, did you have resistance?

03:21 Because you told me earlier that you were traditional before but you were one of the first

03:26 to comply with the modernization program and got modern Jeepneys.

03:31 So did you have a hard time transitioning from traditional to modern Jeepneys?

03:38 Yes ma'am. It was really hard because they were wondering why we wanted to be the first

03:44 and the program was not even starting. It was 2019 and that was the time when we were

03:49 asking to modernize. But what we did, our group, we continued because we really wanted to have a livelihood.

03:58 The resistance, our former co-operators, the majority of them are following the cooperative.

04:05 The General Assembly itself passed a law that all of us are willing to modernize.

04:10 Maybe we just need the right explanation. So those who did not join us, they sold their units

04:17 to those who wanted to buy. And our fellow sellers who sold their units, we gave them a decent...

04:25 they just exchanged their livelihoods. Their livelihoods were not in transportation.

04:31 But we were the ones who got it. We added units to their lives. We are the ones who are in modernization now.

04:38 I have a question. Who is paying for the new units?

04:43 The good thing here is that it's not the operator or the driver who is paying for the new units,

04:49 but all the earnings of the cooperative. That's what we are paying for.

04:54 The good thing is, they say that the co-op should earn almost P1,000 per day or P1,200 to pay for the units.

05:04 That's possible because that's the boundary that we are making with the traditional jeeps.

05:10 It's easy to get our line. So far, we have no issues with the bank. We are running smoothly.

05:19 When it comes to the jeepneys that have individual franchises,

05:26 that's what they are fighting for when there was a protest caravan this week.

05:30 What is the bigger profit? Let's talk about the profit.

05:34 Is the profit bigger for the jeepneys that have individual franchises or the same for the co-operative?

05:42 There are two people who earn when it comes to the transportation business, the operator and the driver.

05:49 The operator, I was also an operator of a jeep. The operator earns P1,200.

05:56 But the operator spends more because the engine is low, transmission, change oil, everything.

06:04 So that's what we are getting from our earnings.

06:06 The driver, if he doesn't run, get sick or have an emergency, we are the ones who are suffering because we don't earn as operators.

06:17 So the operator is lucky to earn P7,000 or P10,000 per month and sometimes, it's not enough.

06:27 It's a bonus. When it comes to the driver of the traditional, I also drive.

06:32 So it's the same. Our earnings, because we are giving P1,200 or P1,000 boundary,

06:38 because of the diesel price, because of the traffic, there are also some problems.

06:43 So we are earning small, P600 or P800. Maybe if you are very hardworking, you start early in the morning and end late at night,

06:51 you can earn P1,500. But the next day, you won't be able to travel.

06:56 So you are earning P750 in one day if you will only look for a job every other day.

07:02 That's the traditional. In the modernized jeep, what we are doing is they are not responding to maintenance.

07:10 The cooperative has a budget because we have a mechanic to buy vehicles.

07:18 So the boundary of P500, because we are giving P500 boundary, P15,000 every month, they can get that in full.

07:27 The good thing about that is they won't have a problem if there's a driver because we have an ex-driver.

07:33 They won't have a problem if there's a cost to the bank or to everyone because they have a budget for them.

07:43 As for the driver, our driver earns P8,000 in P1,400 or P1,200 depending on how much they earn in one day.

07:58 The passenger assistance officer or PAO, almost P1,200.

08:06 There's a slight difference of P200 or P100 depending on the driver.

08:11 So all of them, only half day, from 4 am to 2 pm, they are earning that much.

08:20 So they are able to work every other day. There's also a day off.

08:24 So they are earning that much for the day. There's also an extra.

08:28 So if we look at what's good, the traditional way where we earn small or the modernized way where the income is fixed,

08:38 they have a dividend, capital share, patronage fund, incentives, SSS, love, Medicare.

08:49 So they are given a co-op because all the income of the cooperative is held by one person.

08:55 And the one who holds it, he is the one who decides where to put the money and how much to pay and how much to earn.

09:05 So that's the good thing. It's a fleet-managed business where we run it ourselves.

09:10 We are taking care of the money so that everyone can benefit.

09:14 I have a question regarding the driver's income. You said that the driver has a fixed rate.

09:20 So for a month, because traditionally it depends on the driver's hard work and also on the day,

09:30 if there are a lot of passengers, if they have an emergency or if they are traveling or not.

09:35 So it's more volatile traditionally.

09:38 But you said that the drivers have a fixed income when they are in a cooperative and a modern jeepneys.

09:46 How much is the fixed income of the driver in your consolidated model?

09:54 All of our drivers, it depends on them, there are those who earn big and those who earn small,

10:04 but they don't go down to the minimum.

10:07 So the lowest they earn is P800 per day.

10:11 We have a quota system. If you earn small, you will fall to the minimum.

10:20 But if you really want to earn, you need to have a lot of passengers.

10:24 So if you can raise your quota, you will earn more because it's like overtime pay.

10:31 So we will give them incentives once they have more money in the cooperative.

10:37 Usually our drivers, if they earn P1,200 in 30 days, they can earn P30,000 in a month.

10:46 A hardworking driver can earn that.

10:49 Not unless they want to rest. We have extras.

10:54 The extras are waiting for them if they are absent or if they are sick.

10:59 So it's not the operator's problem but the cooperative itself.

11:03 There are other drivers who will be allowed in so that the vehicles won't be stopped.

11:07 So the income is almost the same if it's traditional and modern,

11:12 and if it's consolidated or non-consolidated.

11:15 Whether it's an individual franchise or a cooperative or a corporation, the income is almost the same.

11:23 But like what you said, fleet management or maintenance of vehicles and jeepneys is easier.

11:34 Aside from that, sir?

11:36 Yes.

11:38 I will add something because traditionally, the operator is in charge.

11:44 If the operator doesn't want to do it, the driver will be removed.

11:47 So they don't have security in their life.

11:51 If they are in fleet management and become a member of the cooperative,

11:55 even if the operator is not there, because they are the only operator,

11:59 they cannot be removed from their life because they are a member of the cooperative.

12:06 The board of directors will talk to them or general assembly.

12:12 The good thing about that is they have security in their life.

12:15 As long as their work is good, even if they are absent, they can continue their life.

12:20 Thank you sir for the clarification.

12:23 Sir I know that many of our jeepney drivers own their own vehicle.

12:29 That's why they are fighting for the individual franchise.

12:33 So what about those drivers who have their own vehicle and franchise?

12:40 How can they comply, especially if they are still losing if they are consolidating?

12:47 Yes ma'am. Before, even my colleagues, I was young at first,

12:54 we were the second generation that we were able to join.

12:58 Most of them have a hard time with maintenance because they are almost overhauling their vehicles and they need to be replaced.

13:08 So the drivers are forced to sell their vehicles, even though they have a hard time with maintenance.

13:16 Because if the vehicle has been in use for 15 to 20 years, the problem is really with maintenance.

13:22 So in the cooperative, the vehicle is not the priority.

13:27 What we prioritize is the business, the multi-million business that will not be lost for 50 years.

13:36 They will continue to earn whatever they earn.

13:40 The good thing is that we can have a shop, we can have a battery, spare parts, canteen, etc.

13:52 It will add to the business that all of us will build together.

13:59 So that's the good thing. We are not just fulfilling the traditional unit.

14:04 We are fulfilling the future of the youth. If we pay for those vehicles,

14:11 the income will be enough for us to say that we will improve our lives.

14:19 We can have a good vehicle and that will be the cooperative payment so we will not have to commute.

14:27 Most of our drivers, our elders, are already on motorcycles because of the incentives they receive from the cooperative.

14:36 Sir lastly for my last question, the price of modern jeepneys.

14:40 Do you agree with that?

14:42 You said that you have bought a lot of modern jeepneys in your cooperative that you are still paying with bank financing.

14:53 Do you think that modern jeepneys are too expensive or do you think it is affordable?

14:57 You're right. It is a bit expensive. We really don't have a choice.

15:02 If we want to find a way to live with transportation, we need to comply.

15:07 But if we can lower the price of the units, I am in favor of cooperatives like ours.

15:15 I am in favor of it. Maybe later we can lower the price and if not, we can get more help from the government and fuel subsidy.

15:26 It will be a big help for us to pay.

15:31 Another problem with transportation is not only the increase of fuel, but also traffic and color rooms.

15:38 If the traditional and modernized vehicles are not available, it will be easier to identify the color rooms.

15:45 And all the vehicles that are running on the streets, the number of vehicles on the streets will decrease.

15:56 We can all travel more than now because of the traffic.

16:01 Especially at night, they are moving around and there are a lot of them.

16:05 If we can lower the price, we are really thankful and we can give a chance to increase our lives.

16:13 You're saying that the government is providing subsidies for the modern fleet, not just fuel subsidy because it is provided.

16:23 So subsidies from the government to buy these modern jeepneys, you have not received yet?

16:29 It is a bit delayed. We have acquired 20 units and we have not received it yet.

16:38 It is just continuous because the government promised that we will be given subsidies.

16:43 If we are given, we will be able to lower our payment to the bank because we will reduce the principal of the bank.

16:51 Maybe we can buy new vehicles that can help us to increase our income.

16:57 I hope we can increase it because the government promised P280,000.

17:05 It is a big help to us.

17:07 If we will do P400,000 or P600,000, why not?

17:10 It is a big thing for our state of life.

17:16 Very well said Sir Leonard.

17:19 Thank you very much Chairman of Pagunova Transport and Multifunctional Operative, Sir Leonard Bautista.

17:26 Thank you very much.

17:28 Thank you.

17:30 Thank you.

17:32 Thank you.

17:34 Thank you.

17:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]

Category

Transcript

Recommended