'Dinosaur' jeepney belongs in museum, Finance chief says

Audrey Morallo, m.philstar.com

Image from, under the title: "The Colorful Philippine Jeepney"

Excerpt:

MANILA, Philippines — Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said that jeepneys plying Philippine streets and avenues should now be “relegated to the museum” as he signed an agreement that would help drivers and operators purchase new and more energy-friendly vehicles.

During the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOU) on the program to replace the country’s entire fleet of public utility jeepneys (PUJs), Dominguez said that the “well-loved” mode of public transportation has already become an “inefficient dinosaur” that must be “relegated to the museum,” adding that it should now be replaced with “cleaner, healthier, safer and more fuel-efficient” means of public conveyance.

Dominguez admitted though that convincing PUJ drivers and operators to shift to a better mode of transportation would be “politically challenging.”

The Finance secretary said that to overcome possible opposition to the government’s modernization plan it would need to engage in better public diplomacy.

“There will be political resistance, no doubt, from those who do not wish change. We will have to conduct effective public diplomacy to raise the acceptance of this program. We must convince the jeepney drivers and operators that this is the way to go. They must understand the financing package will make the shift affordable,” Dominguez said. ...