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MY JEEP: AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF JEEPNEY

MODERNIZATION
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Modern society requires mobility in all aspects of life, a good
t r a n s p o r t a ti o n n e t w o r k w a s o n e o f t h e fi r s t p r i o r i ti e s o f m o d e r n i z e d c i ti e s .
G l o b a l l y , t h e t r a n s p o r t a ti o n i n d u s t r y h a s a d v a n c e d r a p i d l y . T r a n s p o r t a ti o n
h a s h e l p e d p e o p l e r e a c h t h e i r d e s ti n a ti o n s m o r e q u i c k l y . J e e p n e y s a r e t h e
most popular and inexpensive public mode of t r a n s p o r t a ti o n in the
Philippines. M o s t F i l i p i n o c i ti z e n s r e l y o n j e e p n e y s b e c a u s e , a s i d e f r o m
being cheap, it has also become their livelihood, especially for those
drivers who are working to support their families.
Currently, the government has decided to implement jeepney
m o d e r n i z a ti o n , w h i c h w i l l p h a s e o u t t h e o l d r e g u l a r j e e p n e y s a n d r e p l a c e
them with more modernized and eco-friendlier jeepney because of the black
smoke they produce. Jeepneys was originated from the American colonial
period share taxis known as auto calesas, commonly shortened to “AC”.
Furthermore, jeepneys are made from recycled parts of US military Jeeps
used during World War II, which the Filipinos transformed into a unique and
c o l o r f u l m o d e o f t r a n s p o r t a ti o n . O v e r t h e y e a r s , j e e p n e y s h a v e d e v e l o p e d
i n t o a c u l t u r a l s y m b o l t h a t e x e m p l i fi e s t h e c r e a ti v i t y a n d i n g e n u i t y o f t h e
Filipino people. In recent years the clean air act under Republic Act No.
8 7 4 9 p r e s e n t e d a c o n c e r n o n t h e c o n t r i b u ti o n o f p u b l i c u ti l i t y j e e p s i n
p o l l u ti n g t h e a i r . S i n c e t h e n , t h e r e h a v e b e e n n u m e r o u s a tt e m p t s b y t h e
n a ti o n a l g o v e r n m e n t t o c o n v e r t t h e t r a d i ti o n a l j e e p t o a n e l e c t r i c o n e .
H o w e v e r , t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s n o t y e t i m p l e m e n t e d i t b e c a u s e m a n y c i ti z e n s
are opposed to this program.
T h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y i s t o e x a m i n e t h e v a r i o u s p e r s p e c ti v e s o f
j e e p n e y d r i v e r s p a r ti c u l a r l y t o t h e i s s u e a b o u t j e e p n e y m o d e r n i z a ti o n , b y
addressing their opinions we will be able to understand their own point of
v i e w s o n h o w j e e p n e y m o d e r n i z a ti o n w i l l a ff e c t t h e m a n d w h a t a r e t h e
p o s s i b l e a l t e r n a ti v e s t r a t e g i e s t h e y w i l l d o w h e n t h i s p r o g r a m i s a l r e a d y
implemented. We aimed to know their opinions and gain knowledge from
t h e i r p e r s p e c ti v e s .
Adapted research:

Understanding the Impact of the Replacement of Philippine Jeepney to the

D r i v e r s U n d e r P u b l i c U ti l i t y V e h i c l e M o d e r n i z a ti o n P r o g r a m o n S e l e c t e d
C i ti e s o f M e t r o M a n i l a
Authors:
Aquino, Divina Grace
Bembo, Gwen
Buhay, Kerven
D e a n o n , C h r i s ti n e
Javier, Rafael
Manayon, Kiarra Gweneth
Quindao, Gaile Denisse
Ramos, Nica

R e s e a r c h q u e s ti o n s
● I s t h e s a i d p r o g r a m a n e ff e c ti v e w a y t o h e l p j e e p n e y d r i v e r s ?
● W i l l t h e P U V M P b e n e fi t t h e j e e p n e y d r i v e r s ?
● In what way can the researchers raise awareness of the opinions and
concerns of jeepney drivers about the program?