18/07/2017
PRESS RELEASE
Contact person: National Secretary Inventor Jess Alburo
09396512900
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
The Filipino Inventors Society, Incorporated (FIS, INC) a 74 year old organization, was founded on October 14, 1943 at the height of the Japanese Occupation and was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under SEC No. 8394. It is a non-stock, non-profit organization that safeguards patents of inventions locally and abroad.
We would like to manifest and air our strong opposition on the idea of phasing out passenger-type jeepneys which have been here for over 72 years symbolizing Filipino ingenuity and culture. This proudly Filipino made passenger-type jeepney is a unique Filipino trademark known all over the world, as it exposes Filipino unique traditions where the passengers lend a helping hand to other passengers farthest from the driver when paying their fare, a unique tradition that left an indelible mark that sprung the line: “ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES”. It is the only traditional mode of transport which is affordable to the riding public and it has been featured in Philippines postcards as tourist souvenirs. The number of existing passenger jeepneys plying our roads nationwide is approximately around 220,000 units with 61,000 of which are confined in Metro Manila.
We are urging the government to drop its modernization program. Because the effort of phasing out this low cost Filipino made transport system would only create more problem than solution, as more buses and electric vehicles will be seen on the roads as alternative which obviously with unreasonable price, aside from the possible unending fare increases. Besides, the life span of this green version vehicle would only last for five (5) years.
Since those electric vehicles has a whopping cost of 1.4 million per unit with monthly amortization program of Thirty Thousand (P30,000) pesos for Sixty (60) months; each operator should have a daily net earning of One Thousand pesos (P1,000) just to make payments for the vehicle loan of 60 months. In reality, it is almost impossible to meet the monthly amortization due to color-coding constraints, aside from maintenance cost and regulatory cost.
Currently, drivers gross income is Three Thousand (P3,000) pesos daily excluding boundary, diesel fuel, cleaning wherein the net income is only Five Hundred (P500) pesos.
The 61,000 passenger’s jeep in metro manila would be the first casualties in the first salvo of the phase out implementation where significant numbers of drivers and operators,
mostly small scale transport owners who earn their livelihood in mega Manila, will be displaced.
Consequently, these 61,000 operators and drivers in metro manila will go hungry for 60 months if the phase out implementation will proceed as expected.
Moreover, if the 220,000 existing passenger-type jeep nationwide will be replaced with electric vehicle at 1.4 million per unit, it means a total cost of 308Billion pesos. This huge amount of money can finance the construction of 256.0 kilometers long subway (underground transport system) or can build 73,333 units schools classroom nationwide.
It is opined, that brand new 20 seater-passenger-type jeepney cost only P480,000 to P590,000 pesos per unit. The body and chassis is only P180,000, while the surplus diesel engine is P150,000. The total cost of one unit passenger-type jeepney which is way cheaper than the so called P1.4 million unit of green jeepney.
So, the idea of eliminating the Filipino made passengers-type jeep and replaced it with foreign made products, will not only left our drivers and operators in destituteness, harming the environment as more garbage will be thrown into the dumping site and more carbon emission into the atmosphere due to battery production, but it will totally erased the entire Filipino traces, ingenuity, trademarks and traditions.
In view thereof, the Filipino Inventors organization, which is crowded with extraordinary and extremely-creative people, would like to recommend simple solution to the problem. This unique solution doesn’t need billions of pesos to implement. It will effectively and significantly resolve air quality problem in metro manila brought about by passenger-type jeep emission.
This technology will transform old/dilapidated engine into a brand new engine. The emitted air pollution will be effectively eliminated in compliance with the euro 4 emission standards. The modernization of our own Filipino-made jeepney using Filipino ingenuity is more economical, affordable, meaningful, nationalistic, patriotic and far cheaper than the electric vehicle.
This proudly Filipino made technology is already years in existence with thousands of satisfied users. It will surely benefit the transport sectors not only on the environmental compliance, but on engine torques and fuel savings.
We are hoping that you would reconsider our request to have this concerned published in your print media or programs to enlighten the authorities so that small jeepney operators and drivers will not be deprived of their livelihood and rights to retain their passenger-type jeep which has a sentimental value to the lives of the Filipino people as its trademarks, traditions and unique designed already known worldwide.
Maraming salamat po!!!
