Mendoza, Abril Johannes C.

April 17, 2023

STEM-ENGG 1D
Performance Task in ENG 3
Critique Paper
“The Jeepney Phase-out Explained”
(The PUV Modernization program and why jeepney drivers and operators oppose it)
By Inigo Roces
In the Philippines, jeepney, also referred to as jeeps, are the most widely used
type of public utility vehicle. They also resemble minibuses. In the said country, the
jeepney is the most affordable form of transportation. Picking up and dropping off
passengers and drivers is easy due to its traditional and frequently referred to as
antiquated design; unlike buses, they may stop wherever. Due to this ease, some
jeepney drivers, however, cause traffic jams by haphazardly loading and unloading
passengers in the middle of the road. As a result, the safety of the passengers is
significantly impacted and occasionally endangered. Because of this, some people are
advocating for the elimination of this form of transportation, which is also decried as a
significant contributor of air pollution. Given the issue, Inigo Roces wrote “The Jeepney
Phase-out Explained; The PUV Modernization Program and Why Jeepney Drivers and
Operators Oppose It” in order to understand the contentious jeepney phaseout subject.
In this paper, Roces’ article will be critically analyzed by assessing its content, structure,
and bias.
In terms of the content of the work, the paper provides summary of the objectives
of the jeepney phase-out program. Cause-and-effects of the program’s implementation
are also justified within the article’s main points. Factors that initiate the program such
as the jeepney’s outmoded design which puts the life of the passengers at risk, and
being one of the biggest contributors in air pollution of the traditional jeepneys are also
discussed properly in the paper. According to the article, the solution that the
government proposed and would possibly be implemented in the future is to phase out
the old jeepneys and produce more advanced, environmentally friendly, and safe
vehicles. The community of the jeepney drivers and operators, whom will be highly
affected by the program, were partially discussed in the article. The article recognizes
the disadvantages of the program especially to the Filipino jeepney drivers and
operators, and accepts the fact that it will downgrade the culture of the Filipinos and it is
also stated that it will result in the loss of their livelihood. In contradiction, the author
highly focused on the advantages of the program, implying that this government’s
proposal is efficient and is required in order to maintain the balance between economic
and environmental concerns in the Philippines. It is also indicated by the author of the
article that the program is essential for the country’s long-term development. In terms of
the structure of the work, the author produced clear and concise introduction,
informative body, and conclusion. The introduction provides a brief overview of the
jeepney phase-out program, while the body presents the reasons for the phase-out
program to be prioritized and implemented, and its impact on the drivers and operators.
The conclusion summarizes the main points of the article and emphasizes the
importance of the phase-out program for the country’s development. The article also
includes relevant statistics and information to support its arguments. For instance, it
cites a study by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that
shows that the jeepney is one of the major contributors to air pollution in Metro Manila. It
also cites a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that estimates that the
economic cost of air pollution in the Philippines is around $3.8 billion per year.
In addition, the article appears to have a pro-government bias, as it presents the
jeepney phase-out program as a necessary step for the country’s development. It
emphasizes the need to balance economic and environmental concerns and argues
that the phase-out program is necessary for the country’s long-term development, given
the cons of the phase-out program. The article does not provide any alternative
perspectives or viewpoints on the issue, such as the opposition of jeepney drivers and
operators to the phase-out program. Therefore, both sides are not fully discussed, and
only one viewpoint is highlighted regarding the issue. Furthermore, the article does not
provide any information on the specific type of vehicles that will replace the jeepneys or
the timeline for the phase-out program.
In conclusion, the article “The Jeepney Phase-out Explained” provides a clear
and well-structured overview of the jeepney phase-out program and its objectives.
However, the article appears to have a pro-government bias and does not provide
alternative perspectives on the issue. Additionally, the lack of specific information on the
type of vehicles that will replace the jeepneys and the timeline for the phase-out
program may be seen as an attempt to downplay the impact of the program on the
jeepney drivers and operators. Therefore, readers should be cautious in accepting the
article’s perspective as the sole truth and consider other sources of information on the
issue.