Press Release
September 20, 2018

'WALANG PAKIRAMDAM': POE BLASTS TRANSPORT EXEC OVER REMARKS THAT DRIVING JEEPS IS NOT LIVELIHOOD

A Transport official's apparent anti-jeepney driver remarks sparked outrage in what he said that driving a jeepney as a form of public transportation should no longer be viewed as a source of livelihood.

This time, Sen. Grace Poe chided Transport Assistant Secretary Mark Richmund de Leon for his "insensitive" remarks amid uncertainties that jeepney drivers face when transport modernization fully rolls out.

"Walang pakiramdam itong mga taong ito. Ano, gigising ka nang napakaaga para mamasada, trip-trip lang 'yon, para lang pampalipas oras? 'Yung mga driver na nakapagtaguyod ng kanilang mga anak na nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral, bakit kaya nila ginagawa ang sakripisyong ito?" Poe said Thursday, September 20.

Interviewed over a noontime television news program, Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee, even reminded Transport officials to support those who will be affected by the modernization since several transport groups have been complaining that the subsidy of P80,000 that they will receive is insufficient to purchase a "modern" jeepney that costs about P1.8 million.

"Kung P1.8 million, tapos ang kanilang subsidy ay [maliit] lang, papaano sila makakabili ng jeep? Itong mga bagay na ito ay siguro dapat isip-isipin naman ng DOTr. Kapag magbitiw sila ng salita, akala mo talagang walang compassion, walang pakiramdam para sa mga kababayan nila," Poe, who said that she was not against modernization nor the transport groups and leaders that she spoke with.

"Alam ko andiyan sila [Department of Transportation] para sa modernisasyon, nandiyan din naman ako, gusto rin naman nating maayos ang ating transportasyon. Pero 'wag nilang kalilimutan na 600,000 mga driver ang naka-depende sa trabahong 'yan," Poe has warned.

"Kung gagawa sila ng modernisasyon, isipin nila kung paano nila mabibigyan ng hanapbuhay itong mga taong ito dahil responsibilidad iyan ng gobyerno. Ang gobyerno ang hindi dapat kumita, ang tao ang dapat magkaroon ng hanapbuhay. Lalo na ngayon, ang taas-taas ng bilihin, ngayon ninyo gagawin 'yan at 'yung alternatibo ay hindi naman maayos," Poe added.

Poe took up the cudgels for some 600,000 jeepney drivers nationwide who regard driving as their primary source of income for their families.

"Hindi dapat hanapbuhay ang pagtingin sa pamamasada?" the senator said, adding that the Transportation department should not favor a few groups or individuals.

"Kung magkakaroon ng iilan lamang na kumpanya na magpapatakbo dito, iilan lang ang mabebenipisyuhan nito? Kaya kung gusto nila na magkaroon ng modernisasyon, ayusin nila na ang mga driver ay makakabili ng tamang sasakyan para mag-comply sa modernisasyon," Poe said.

Poe likewise said the subsidies for the jeepney drivers, specifically the Pantawid Pasada Program under the tax reform should be released in full.

News Latest News Feed