ILIGAN City ― A man was asked by another man: "What is a society?"

"A society is a group of persons that expresses a complete thought."

A joker of an answer of course. The person who answered that had an idea of what it that about. But the idea is muddled.

Just like the jeepney phaseout, the idea of which has fallen into our midst. For we are all affected. It is just like a sentence. Which might be simple, compound, or compound-complex. Or compound compound. Or complex complex. So all of the above. That is if I remember right all those things about this mammal in the English language which we are all "mandated" to use. Because they say this is the "language of business." Never mind for the moment those Ludabi members, or advocates of the idea that if possible, we must use most of the time, our "Bisaya."

This jeepney phase-out thing wants to replace jeepneys 15 years old or older with new ones "that conform with the Philippine National Standards and are powered by an electric powertrain or a Euro 4-compliant diesel engine." It also demands that jeepney operators join cooperatives or corporations.

There is something in there. The idea is good. It is somewhat like that notice in a sari-sari store. Which says, "your credit is good, but we need cash."

Yes. This idea about joining a cooperative -- well, joining a coop is "voluntary" in nature, not compulsory. Yet the tenor is that, compulsory or mandatory. And this corporation thing, management is like that of a "variation" of the golden rule. Which says, he who has the gold makes the rules. That is, the majority stockholder makes the rules. So, pity the poor jeepney operator.

For one thing, the cost of this jeepney, this new animal, or whatever it is called, costs double. And the poor operator could not afford them. For example, the cost of this "iconic" jeepney, is only around P250,000. With this new creature replacing the jeepney, it costs double, or over a million. So, how, how, the carabao…? I mean, this isn't a carabao thing. And also, these jeepneys that are plying all over the country "facilitates" cargo of the poor folks, like crying babies, fishes in baskets that must be sold in the market, clothes items that have to be taken somewhere, and things like that. Which ordinary folks can't afford to use other means for that matter?

Anyway, this thing at this time seems like a tug of war. It leans this way, in favor of the operators and the general public, on one hand, only to lean in favor of the government, on the other hand later.

It is said that the government will dish out loans to the operators to allow affordability, says the amount for the cost of the jeepney, say, a million bucks. But it is said, analysts say, that the "cost" of this replacement is over 1,000 percent of the jeepney that they are using now. So, why not just rehab the old, one instead of replace? Good idea.

And hey, can the government subsidy be relied upon? What is a government? Asked some joker of a "questioner." And the equal joke of an "answerer" says, " a government is sitting on the chair." Meaning doing hardly anything for the people they are "serving." Or another answer: "A government is disappearing from the chair." In other words, this envisioned help from the government won't help. Hardly.

That's why this one-week "holiday" or tigil pasada. This city hasn't participated in the March 6 to 13 strike though. Although these transport organizations here like the Clutch (Coalition of Lanao Utility Transport for Change) or the Mitsco, Soiltrasco, etc. are sympathizing with the strikers. Although it is said that this has "fizzled out" too. Even if the government, which by the way though always sitting on the chair, complete with air cons, has "postponed" the deadline -- from the middle of this year to the year-end of 2023.

How many times has this been postponed-- from then President DU30 in 2017, to 2019, and to 2023?

And then when I was sitting in the plaza near the office, my nerdy friend Mike suddenly came over upon seeing me and said: "I think I have the answer about that 'mandatory; aspect as in cooperativism or that darn 'golden rule' about corporations. The operators, each of them have to apply for this thing called One Person Corporation!"

The idea is good. Yet at the same time not good. Just like that sign on a sari-sari store.

Email: nora.lady @yahoo.com or contact 09277983167