SUPPORTING the recent transport strike, along with fighting for the plight of jeepney drivers and operators, is the “last ride” of Honey Enriquez. It’s her last task to fulfill her promise to her late father Efren Enriquez, a jeepney driver.

Upon learning in 2017 that former president Rodrigo Duterte plans to pull out the aging jeepneys of the country, Efren began feeling anxious about his fate as a driver. 

He earned P700 to P1,000 daily, excluding diesel and the so-called “boundary,” or the fixed fee he had to pay the owner of the jeepney he drove. His earnings were enough to raise his family and support his children’s education. 

But recently, Efren passed away due to a heart attack. He drew his last breath driving his jeepney, holding the steering wheel that helped raise his family for 34 years.

Efren perished carrying the worries brought by the years-long debacle surrounding the jeepney phaseout. With the proposed modernization of jeepneys, which would cost around P2.4 to P2.6 million per unit, Honey’s family now bears the brunt of the looming phaseout.

Extended deadline

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier established a June 30 deadline for traditional jeepney drivers and operators to consolidate into cooperatives or corporations. 

Even though the LTFRB said that it will push back the original deadline to December 31, jeepney drivers and operators, including Honey’s family, are still concerned that their livelihood will be jeopardized by this initiative.

“[Sobrang] hirap, dahil sa pamamasada po ng jeep ang pangunahing ikinabubuhay ng pamilya namin. Hindi lang naman po ang drayber o mga pasahero ang lubos na maapektuhan, [pati ang] tulad ko, kaming mga pamilyang umaasa sa pang araw-araw na biyahe at kita ng jeep, lalo na po ‘yung mga pamilyang may pinag-aaral pa,” Honey told republicasia.

Honey also owns a coffee shop which helps her support her education and other necessities of her family. Her brother is now driving the same jeepney their father left them and is currently experiencing the discomfort many Filipino jeepney drivers feel.

Déjà vu

“Naalala ko ‘yung pakiramdam ni papa nung unang naging issue ang pagtanggal sa mga jeep, lalo na ngayon na ‘yung jeep na dinadala ng papa ko noon ay siyang kabuhayan na ng kapatid ko ngayon. Nakakalungkot lang po na parehas ‘yung nakikita ko noon sa papa ko na nararamdaman ng kapatid ko,” said Honey.

The fight will continue

However, Honey said she would continue the fight of her late father, a former member of the transport group Pasang Masda, and now of her older brother, who is continuing the legacy of their father in a quest to sustain their livelihood and to preserve the legitimate symbol of Philippine transportation.

She said that she witnessed the hardships of her father, along with the other drivers, who faced the struggles of driving a public utility vehicle, particularly jeepneys. They endured the scorching heat of the sun and heavy rains to provide for their families. This is why she would keep on calling on the government to suspend the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.

Honey likewise recalled that her father would persistently tell her his life is very much tied to driving jeepneys. This is why she would keep holding on to her father’s principles to raise awareness about the importance of the jeepney, and call out the national government for the long-term economic burden of its phase out.

“Laging sinasabi ni papa noon na sa jeep sya nabuhay, sa manibela din ng jeep siya mamamatay. Kaya hanggang dulo, kahit man mawalan kami ng jeep, sasama at tutugon pa rin ako sa pagbabasura ng jeepney phaseout,” she said

‘Activism is not communism’

She also called out Vice President and Secretary of Education Sara Duterte for saying that the week-long strike is a “communist-inspired” movement. 

Drivers held this cause in order for them to be heard, said Honey. 

“Maling sabihin na ang gaganaping week-long transport strike ay ‘communist-inspired’ dahil una sa lahat, ang activism ay hindi katumbas ng communism. Kaya lang naman po ginagawa ng mga driver ang isang linggong tigil pasada ay para manawagan at mapakinggan sila. Tsaka ang pagsama samang panawagan sa labas ng kalsada ay isang paraan upang magamit natin ang democratic rights bilang isang mamamayan ng bansa,” she said.