UGATLahi Artists Collective in partnership with the BFPG 3A Studio Arts class launched “Pasahero Para Kay Tsuperhero” on March 14 at the Philippine Women’s University.
Royin Maglaya of UGATLahi expressed gratitude following the physical launching of the exhibit.
“Nagsimula lang ito bilang online exhibit bago nagkaroon ngayon ng physical exhibit. Ito ‘yong power ng art dahil maraming narereach itong mga tao kung saan nagiging aware sa kalagayan ng mga tsuper,” Maglaya said.
[It started as an online exhibit before having a physical exhibit now. This is the power of art because it reaches many people, making them aware of the situation of the drivers]
UGATLahi first launched the online exhibit on January 13 in time for the Art Month celebration in February. The exhibit aimed to amplify demands of thousands of jeepney drivers and operators which will be affected by the looming phaseout through Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
“Isang porma ng pagtuturo ang ganitong mga initiative dahil sa mga napapadalo at interesadong estudyante, mga artista para makiisa sa laban ng mga tsuper sa bogus at huwad na PUVMP,” Maglaya added.
[This type of initiative serves as a form of education because it engages and interests students, artists, and others to join the fight against fake and bogus PUVMP]
UGATLahi was also among the supporting organizations that led the PasaHero Para Kay TsuperHero commuter alliance, hence the exhibit’s name.
Maglaya said the Marcos Jr administration’s charter change will also railroad the implementation of PUVMP.
“Ang charter change ni Marcos ay nagtutulak sa 100% pagmamay-ari ng dayuhan. Hahayaan ang mga dayuhan na magmonopolyo sa transportation service. Sa madaling salita, mawawalan ng kontrol ang mga tsuper sa kinikita nila,” Maglaya explained.
[Marcos’ charter change pushes for 100% foreign ownership, allowing foreigners to monopolize transportation services. In other words, drivers will lose control over their earnings]
Under PUVMP, traditional jeepney drivers and single operators should undergo franchise consolidation to financially capable corporations or cooperatives. These corporations must be able to meet the PUVMP’s requirement of having 15 or more units under a single franchise.
PUVMP also pushes for modernization among traditional jeepney units by having to procure the imported and air-conditioned minibuses.
Transport groups MANIBELA and PISTON have since averred PUVMP will result in the loss of livelihood among jeepney drivers and operators.
The groups asserted that drivers and individual operators are unable to afford the government’s offer of modernized jeepneys amounting to P1.4 million in cash or about P2.8 million if purchased through a loan. They added drivers only earn a meager amount of P400 to P500 with each trip that they allocate towards their daily expenses, especially considering the high cost of basic commodities including petroleum.
“Iniimbitahan ko po ang lahat ng artista ng bayan para lumahok sa ating laban. Bukas pa rin po tayo sa pagpapasa ng artworks para sa pagpapalakas ng kampanya kaisa sa pagbabasura ang PUVMP,” said Maglaya.
[I invite all artists of the nation to participate in our cause. We are still open to accepting artworks to strengthen the campaign against the PUVMP’s disposal]
The cumulative art project-cum-exhibition will run until April 14 in PWU School of Fine Arts & Design (SFAD) Art Space.
