STREET SUCKERS (Part 1)

For the first time, this blog received a letter this week. It came from a jeepney driver. Part of the letter was omitted for space and the most important part has been edited to suit the format of this site.

“Ako po ay isang tsuper na matagal nang namamasada dito sa Legazpi. Sa trabaho ko pong ito napa-tapos ang aking kaisa-isang anak na ngayon ay isa nang public school teacher. Mahal na mahal ko po ang aking trabaho at dahil po dito patuloy po akong kumakayod kahit wala na po akong pinapa-aral. Ang akin pong idinudulog ay hindi lang po para sa akin kundi para din pos a aking mga kapwa tsuper na tinitiis na lang ang problema.
Maaring alam na po ng karamihan na diyan po sa sentro ng lungsod, ay marami pong naglilipana na mga “barker” na humihingi po ng patong na limang piso sa tuwing may sumasakay na pasahero. Sa totoo lang po, kahit po wala sila ay may sasakay at sasakay lalo na kung ‘rush-hour.’ Ang nakakalungkot po ay kahit na hindi nila tinawag na pasahero basta sumakay at insigida limang piso kaagad ang hinihingi nila sa kawawang driver. Pag-hindi bumigay ang tsuper, ito ay kanilang binabantaan ng masama.
Dagdag pa nito ay iilan ang mga pwesto ng mga ito sa lungsod. Dalawa sa LCC, isa sa may monumento at dalawa sa may doughnut outlet kung saan okupado nila ang tig-isang kanto. Kung ang limang pwesto na ito ay hihingi ng tig-lilimang piso iyan ay malinaw na 25 pesos sa isang round. Kawawa naman ang mga driver!
Ipinaabot na namin ang problemang ito sa mga pulis at nangako naman sila na ito ay bibigyan nila ng aksyon subali’t nauulit parin ang mga pangyayaring ito lalo na kung walang nakabantay sa mga bandidong ito! Ano po an gaming gagawin? Hindi na po talaga namin kaya na patuloy na maging biktima ng mga sakim na barker at dispatcher!”

Last Sunday, this writer was able to confirm that there are indeed several self-proclaimed dispatchers at the mentioned areas. Before we go into the specified issues ventilated by the sender of the letter, please allow this column to dish out its manifestations on the matter.
Our first stop is Penaranda Street behind this popular mall downtown. Drivers have to stop to unload shoppers exactly at the rear entrance as it is the most accessible way into the said establishment. After unloading, these jeeps also pick up passengers who have just finished shopping. This action unfortunately costs the drivers five pesos. If one refuses to pay up, he receives, at the very least, a volley of threats and invectives from these vultures. Continuous refusal to give in may invoke worse actions. Most of the time, the driver is forced to shell out. Others, wanting to save up and avoid an altercation, do not stop at this site anymore.

First of all, this road is not a jeep terminal. The public utility vehicles (PUVs) are supposed to load and unload commuters only and not park and wait for customers to fill their jeeps. The reason most PUV’s do not leave until they are filled is mainly because of these street suckers who prey on the drivers who try very hard to honestly earn their keep. Traffic obstruction is of course another issue to contend with. (To be continued...)

(Photo courtesy of www.batch2006.com)