ALPAS BALITA Volume 1, Issue 1, Aug 2019-Jan 2020 12 “OH! ISA PA SA KANAN!” “OH! ISA PA SA KANAN!” Photo by Josep Gutierrez. Allain Josef Ortigas The jeepney or “jeep” is the most common transport groups are seeking to increase the min- The goal is for commuters to supposed- mode of transportation for public commuters in imum jeepney fare due to the additional increase ly experience a more efficient and ‘eco-friendly’ the Philippines. Jeepneys were invented back in tax of P1.50 in diesel products, which will be ef- mode of transportation that would lessen health the early 1950’s in Manila. It became a public fective on January 1, 2020. Philippine Star also risks for commuters, by lessening the smoke transportation solution for the citizens of Manila. stated that 3 up to 5 transport groups are seeking coming from vehicles. This will also result al- It was made to accommodate more passengers, an increase in jeepney fares and planned to file a legedly in drivers being able to receive regular and help people go from one place to another. consolidated petition to the Land Transportation salary as they work by shifts. Up until now, jeepneys are still one of the Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for a However, drivers and operators are great- most helpful means of transportation for a lot provisional increase of P1 to P2 in the previous ly against this from taking place as they see mod- of Filipinos who commute as part of their daily fare for the first four kilometers. ernization as again mere privatization. Accord- routine. However, commuters are having a diffi- Jeepney drivers spend an average of ing to an article in the Inquirer by Cleng Julve, cult time accepting the rise of the minimum fare, P1,500 on diesel daily. While the government’s “in the guise of “modernization” the government which is continually affected by the ongoing in- P20,000 fuel subsidy in 2020 is of help to jeepney would ease out small drivers/operators to pave flation in the Philippines. drivers, Pasang Masda president Obet Martin the way for the entry of private corporations in According to Cosmopolitan news in an said that it is still a measly “band-aid solution for the management and control of public trans- article written by Monina Eugenio, several trans- high gasoline prices due to the Tax Reform for portation... This results in corporatization.” This port groups are seeking to increase the minimum Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.” The is alongside the high costs of each jeepney unit fare in jeepneys from the current P9 to P11 or P12 increase in minimum fare is viewed as a prob- at P1.6-2.2 million, which operators alone must in this coming January 2020 in some areas such lem for commuters, while drivers and their fam- procure, having only an P80,000 loan as subsidy as Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern ilies see it as a necessity in order for them to earn from the national government. Tagalog, in order for jeepney drivers to cope up enough to lift them from poverty. Jeepneys are a staple already not only in with the rising cost of living. Another concern of the people is the our streets but also in much of Philippine society. According to the report of SAKSI, a news- jeepney modernization that was lobbied for im- As news regarding our jeeps develop, we as com- cast show broadcasted by the GMA Network, plementation by the Department of Transporta- muters must keep watch and remain on the line. tion of the Philippines (DOTr) in 2017. FILIPINO OFWS, APEKTADO SA WEST ASIA DULOT NG TENSYON SA PAGITAN NG US AT IRAN Edward Guerra OFWs in Iran. Photo by Philippine Star. Citizens waving their Iran flag. Photo by ABS-CBN News. Matapos ang kagimbal-gimbal na pangyayari noong Enero 2, 2020, Ayon sa datos ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas noong 2018, ang mga kung saan inatake ng Estados Unidos o US ang isang Iranian miltiary con- Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa ay nakapag-remit ng humihigit sa voy sa isang airstrike sa Baghdad, Iraq, na ikinasawi ng Commandante $32.21 bilyon, o 1.3 trilyong piso, na malaking bahagi ng ating Gross Na- Militar ng Iran na si Qassem Soleimani, at isang opisyal ng Iraq na si Abu tional Product o GNP. Mahdi Al-Muhandis, mahigit 3,000 Overseas Filipino Workers o OFWs Ayon kay Zarate, bilang huli, ang kasalukuyang tensyon sa pagitan ngayon ang inaasahang magiging apektado mula sa matinding tensyon na ng U.S. at Iran ay isang malaking banta rin para sa mga naninirahan sa Pil- ito sa Gitnang Silangan/Middle East o West Asia. ipinas. Maaaring makapagdulot ang nasabing gusot, diumano, ng pagtaas Ang matinding tensyon sa West Asia ay posibleng maging isang ng presyo ng langis at petrolyo na nangangahulugang pagtaas sa presyo malaking dagok para sa Pilipinas partikular sa mga OFWs dahil sa posib- ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan at pagtaas ng porsyento ng kahira- ilidad ng OFW deployment ban sa buong rehiyon. Mahigit dalawang mi- pan sa bansa. Partikular at alinsabay ang lahat ng ito sa pagpapatupad ng lyong OFWs sa ganitong gana na kasalukuyang nasa iba’t ibang bansa sa ikatlong “tranche” ng TRAIN Law, o ng Tax Reform for Acceleration and Middle East ang maaapektuhan. “Ito rin ay maaaring magresulta sa pag- Inclusion Law, pagpasok ng Enero 2020. bagsak ng OFW remittances kapag sila’y ipinabalik sa Pilipinas,” ayon kay Sanggunian: Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Zarate. Inaasahan din ang Aquino, L., …, & Sadongdong, M. (2020 Jan 5).”3000 OFWs to be hit hard by US-Iran pagbagsak nang Gross National Product (GNP) ng bansa resulta ng inaas- c o n fl i c t ”. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from http://news.mb.com.ph/2020/01/05/3000-ofws-to-be- ahang pagbaba ng remittances ng mga OFW, ani rin niya. hit-hard-by-us-iran-conflict/