Sa Lugar: How Jeepneys can Boost Tourism in Iloilo
One
of the issues that dominated the news recently was the modernization of jeepneys.
The new jeepneys will be equipped with CCTV cameras, GPS, and automated fare
collection or beep cards; and only two types of jeepneys will be allowed–the
electric and the Euro-4 compliant jeepneys–to comply with the Clean
Air Act. However, upon seeing the modern prototypes on TV, my
initial reaction was, “Those vehicles are not jeepneys. They are coasters
disguised as jeepneys!”
Coasters
are fine. They are beautiful vehicles and can transport passengers safely.
However, a jeepney has a distinctive design that makes it…. well, a jeepney.
When a foreigner sees a jeepney, or even just a miniature version of it, he or
she immediately recognizes it as THE Philippine mode of transportation. It is
like a signifier of our Filipino identity, similar to how we use the barong or
the baro-at-saya, if you will.
I
am not against this modernization. However, I am concerned that we are throwing
this part of our identity away for its sake. In this vein, I am proposing that,
at the least a city would retain jeepneys as a mode of public transportation,
even for just a single route.
Why
so? Well, it is because the jeepney–which is pretty much ubiquitous in any city
in the country–is Filipino. And there
is a reason why we need to preserve them: tourism.
Why
Tourism?
The
Iloilo Provincial Government created a new Provincial Capitol building, but
they did not demolish the old one; instead, they rehabilitated it into a
multi-functioning Casa Real. A new Provincial Jail was also built, but the old
one was not demolished; instead, it was repaired and will now host the National
Museum for the first time in the city’s history. On that note, the old Jaro
Municipal Hall was also repaired and will be made into its satellite office.
There
is a point to be made here: old buildings—specifically, old things and
relics—can tell stories behind specific periods in our history. And I argue the
same can also be said of the jeepney.
If
our goal is to make Iloilo City into a heritage town, then let us make the
jeepney into a living historical exhibit. In three years, the government aims
to replace the old designs, so it is safe to assume that the traditional
Philippine jeepney’s survival is critically endangered. As a sanctuary for
those old jeepney designs, Iloilo will have another feature to attract
tourists. It might be even better
than a festival because it is an attraction that could be available
all-year round.
What should we retain?
A
couple of factors that contribute to the jeepney’s advantage are its unique
look and comfortable design. Retaining the jeepneys’ Sarao and FMC designs or
their variations that dominated the Molo district route during the 1990s will
be good since we can tell tourists specific stories of our heritage. But we
should also show how the jeepneys evolved through the years, so keeping the
latter-era designs like the boxed-type and cimarron should also be valuable.
On
the other hand, our jeepneys’ designs have always emphasized the passenger’s
comfort. With that in mind, the wide windows should be kept so that the said
passenger would not need to stretch his or her neck out to look outside, while
its lowered body height will make it easier for even the shortest passenger to
ride the vehicle. In addition, the sleek appearance and functional upholstery
still holds up until today.
The
usual mode of payment should also be retained. Where else in the world can you
see passengers helping the driver collects the fare? At this point, we are not
even sure if beep cards are practical enough for everyday usage.
What
is unique is good. What is culturally unique is good for tourism. And what is
good for tourism is, obviously, good for the economy.
That does not mean we
don’t have to comply with the new regulations.
It
would only be a matter of time before every jeepney will adopt the Euro-4
engine or the electric model, so complying with the new regulation is not a
moot point. However, while I do not see the practicality with installing wi-fi
and GPS on the jeepneys, the CCTV cameras should be complemented with dash
cameras so they could act as prevention devices – for instance, like recording
pickpocketing and kotong activities.
How are we going to do
it?
The
solution should be ideally simple: affected parties like the jeepney operators,
drivers, and manufacturers would have to meet with various agencies like Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board,
Department of Tourism, and local government units to discuss its viability.
Everyone
can perhaps agree that modernization is good to societies. However, it should
not come at the cost of displacing our identity. In the face of an
interconnected world, we should treasure and celebrate what makes us “us”.
……………………………………….
[This was published in Project Iloilo
website but it is already closed]
