On my way home one night, I got to ride shotgun with the jeepney driver. I found out that the driver is not merely a hired help but the son of the owner of the jeepney. The vehicle we are riding is their source of income. And it helped finance the college study of the boy.
The topic of our discussion went around the prospect of father and son to minimize overhead cost that is fuel. At that time, diesel prices were running at about 55 to 56 pesos per liter.
A leading means of coping with rising fuel prices is conversion of vehicle engines to liquefied petroleum gas burning ones. Since that solution only works for lighter vehicles with lighter loads like taxis, the key to saving on fuel for this family is converting their diesel engine so it can run on biodiesel.
I learned from the driver that the government is actually offering jeepney owners a P450,000 loan to have their engines replaces with custom biodiesel consuming engines. The amount also includes components like specialized fuel tanks and pipes and other engine parts.
Another option is a much cheaper refit costing only P50,000 pesos.
As a graduate of marine engineering, the driver knows some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a new set of engines and doing a simple refit.
While I forgot all about the pros and cons of the solutions, I was able to remember the thoughts of the driver on his father's plan to buy a new jeepney instead.
To him, a refit or a new engine beats buying a new jeep. First among his considerations is the cost. He thought they can save hundreds of thousands with a new engine and some minor repairs on the chassis and the body.
The move of the government to assist owners of public utility vehicles is, at best, a noble one. But I believe, the government can do better. With all the minds, skills, and experiences at its disposal, they could have come up with a better solution.
Sure, fuel cost is affected by rising world oil prices and fluctuations of the dollar but a solution will always present itself. The govern should just take a closer look at things and have an open mind. What they should keep closed are their thoughts to having prospective campaign sponsors from big oil companies whose reservoir of black gold is almost drained.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Expense or convenience
Just last week, the construction of the C-5 U-turn flyover has concluded. Now vehicles coming from Makati and Quezon City can use the flyover to get to Pasig or Pateros via Buting.
In the past, commuters and drivers alike need to go further to get to Buting after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority implemented the no left turn rule in C-5. They will either turn right to Kalayaan and make a U-turn near Fort Bonifacio's Gate or drive ahead and around Market! Market! to be in Pateros. Some opted to use the new bridge in Sta. Rosa, Pasig.
This new u-turn flyover has come as a convenience to these travelers.
But just how many need this flyover? Will this prove to be the convenience people need or be just like the flyover in Meralco Avenue that crosses Julia Vargas where only a trickle of the daily rush hour travel fly through? We'll soon see.
In the past, commuters and drivers alike need to go further to get to Buting after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority implemented the no left turn rule in C-5. They will either turn right to Kalayaan and make a U-turn near Fort Bonifacio's Gate or drive ahead and around Market! Market! to be in Pateros. Some opted to use the new bridge in Sta. Rosa, Pasig.
This new u-turn flyover has come as a convenience to these travelers.
But just how many need this flyover? Will this prove to be the convenience people need or be just like the flyover in Meralco Avenue that crosses Julia Vargas where only a trickle of the daily rush hour travel fly through? We'll soon see.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Music to my subconcsious
This morning, I was able to get to the terminal at almost 9:00. As I was waiting for the next FX to come along, I heard a Visayan rendition of a popular song played in parties and discos.
At first, I thought the song is about a party that the singer and his companions joined one night. They had fun in that party and later on the lead singer asked one of his friends for a prepaid load of three hundred pesos so he can call someone to say hello-lo-lo-lo-lo.
The music got stuck in my mind and I sang it, or at least a part of it, in the office. One of my officemates knew the song an since she is Visaya, she told me my interpretation of the lyrics was wrong.
What the song actually told is that, yes the guys did join a party and had fun but among those served for them to eat is what we call "butete." They ate the butete and were poisoned by the food. It resulted to them feeling dizzy (nahilo-lo-lo-lo-lo).
On my way home, I now have a better grasp at what the song means.
As luck would have it, I heard the song again as the radio station the jeep I was taking was tuned in to played that same music.
It was bad enough that I was playing the song in my head in the office, now, I am still playing it in my subconscious up until the time I am about to sleep.
Sheesh!
At first, I thought the song is about a party that the singer and his companions joined one night. They had fun in that party and later on the lead singer asked one of his friends for a prepaid load of three hundred pesos so he can call someone to say hello-lo-lo-lo-lo.
The music got stuck in my mind and I sang it, or at least a part of it, in the office. One of my officemates knew the song an since she is Visaya, she told me my interpretation of the lyrics was wrong.
What the song actually told is that, yes the guys did join a party and had fun but among those served for them to eat is what we call "butete." They ate the butete and were poisoned by the food. It resulted to them feeling dizzy (nahilo-lo-lo-lo-lo).
On my way home, I now have a better grasp at what the song means.
As luck would have it, I heard the song again as the radio station the jeep I was taking was tuned in to played that same music.
It was bad enough that I was playing the song in my head in the office, now, I am still playing it in my subconscious up until the time I am about to sleep.
Sheesh!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Of work and play
During the commute home, I had nothing to do but worry about an unpaid service rendered to our office. While in my stressful and distressing thoughts, I overheard four people talk about work and play.
There were two males and two females. One of the females is obviously the most senior employee since they address her as ma'am.
When they boarded the jeep, they began their discussion about a sports event where they came from. The two girls must have played in that game since they were both wearing uniforms. The two boys were probably just spectators because they were in the usual friday outfit of collared shirts and jeans.
After a few moments of teasing the "players" at how they fared in the game, their discussion shifted to things that happended in the office. They were laughing about how one of the guys was surprised by their boss with a question and gave an answer that is not in any way related to what was asked.
After a few minutes of office talk on the subject of questions and answers, they shifted back to the game that afternoon. This time, they talked about their other officemates and how they played.
The senior gal got off at her stop leaving the three others continue the journey with me.
Since the remaining three seems to be going to the same area, they changed topics to who lives where and who lives near to whoever. They even discussed who the town mayor of the last girl is.
In a minute or two, all three got off at the same stop to take another ride to where they are going.
And that ends their talk of work and play.
There were two males and two females. One of the females is obviously the most senior employee since they address her as ma'am.
When they boarded the jeep, they began their discussion about a sports event where they came from. The two girls must have played in that game since they were both wearing uniforms. The two boys were probably just spectators because they were in the usual friday outfit of collared shirts and jeans.
After a few moments of teasing the "players" at how they fared in the game, their discussion shifted to things that happended in the office. They were laughing about how one of the guys was surprised by their boss with a question and gave an answer that is not in any way related to what was asked.
After a few minutes of office talk on the subject of questions and answers, they shifted back to the game that afternoon. This time, they talked about their other officemates and how they played.
The senior gal got off at her stop leaving the three others continue the journey with me.
Since the remaining three seems to be going to the same area, they changed topics to who lives where and who lives near to whoever. They even discussed who the town mayor of the last girl is.
In a minute or two, all three got off at the same stop to take another ride to where they are going.
And that ends their talk of work and play.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Most unfortunate
This morning I arrived at the PUV terminal at around 8:20 hoping to get on board soon and be on my way to the before 9:00. But what greeted me is a very long line of fellow commuters waiting for their turn to get on board.
I was debating with myself if I will go and wait in line or if I should take another way to the office. I chose to wait in line.
By experience, if I take a jeepney to Pasig City, then take another FX to the office, it will probably take me more than an hour to get to the office.
I asked the dispatcher why the line grew longer than usual. He said that there is an on-going boat race along the Pasig River and most roads used by the drivers on their return trip is closed. the boat race is part of the celebrations for Araw ng Pasig.
I had no choice but to just wait. And it is past 9:00 already.
Waiting it out, I was able to get on board after 30 minutes and be in the office in another 15. What a way to start the month...
I was debating with myself if I will go and wait in line or if I should take another way to the office. I chose to wait in line.
By experience, if I take a jeepney to Pasig City, then take another FX to the office, it will probably take me more than an hour to get to the office.
I asked the dispatcher why the line grew longer than usual. He said that there is an on-going boat race along the Pasig River and most roads used by the drivers on their return trip is closed. the boat race is part of the celebrations for Araw ng Pasig.
I had no choice but to just wait. And it is past 9:00 already.
Waiting it out, I was able to get on board after 30 minutes and be in the office in another 15. What a way to start the month...
Right turning vehicles keep right
As far as I know, the rule in a highway without a traffic light is that vehicles that will turn right must stay on the right lane and those crossing will keep the middle or left most lane wherever applicable. This however, does not hold true in C-5.
Everyday that I commute from home to the office, when we get to the corner leading to Valle Verde Subdivision, our PUV always has a hard time turning right on that corner. Well, the traffic is usually heavy in the part of the highway but it is not the volume of moving vehicles that gives us a problem turning right. It is those educated and mostly professionals who drive their cars along the right lane even if they are not turning right.
It always amuses me to see these driver in nice cars, wearing nice clothes looking all educated. And yet the education seem to have been placed on the backseat just to be on the lane where the vehicles move faster.
And what's bad about it is that if you get to cut them off so you can turn right, they'll get upset.
As the expression in one of the jokes I received through email says: the nerd of this people!
Everyday that I commute from home to the office, when we get to the corner leading to Valle Verde Subdivision, our PUV always has a hard time turning right on that corner. Well, the traffic is usually heavy in the part of the highway but it is not the volume of moving vehicles that gives us a problem turning right. It is those educated and mostly professionals who drive their cars along the right lane even if they are not turning right.
It always amuses me to see these driver in nice cars, wearing nice clothes looking all educated. And yet the education seem to have been placed on the backseat just to be on the lane where the vehicles move faster.
And what's bad about it is that if you get to cut them off so you can turn right, they'll get upset.
As the expression in one of the jokes I received through email says: the nerd of this people!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
New facade
Mayor Fred Lim of Manila making putting his own make-over of the Pasig river shores. I chanced upon a project being undertaken under the Quezon Bridge near Quiapo market.
On my way home from a meeting at the Presidential Management Staff Building in Malacanang, I took a jeep plying the Pasig-Quiapo Echague route from Arlegui to Quiapo's Quinta Market. At the back of Quinta Market right beside the bridge is the Quiapo Terminal of the Pasig River Ferry.
Between the passenger waiting area and the pontoon dock is a beautification project being undertaken by the Manila City government.
The wide area about a quarter of a kilometer long is being paved with red and off-white stones. This walkway stretches from the edge of Quinta market bordering FEATI university up to the point where the river is met by another stream.
I don't know yet how this will look like when the project is done with all the displaced settlers under the bridge and beside Quinta market. And how will this sort of a promenade be accessible to the public without compromising the security of the ferry terminal.
An update is forthcoming!
On my way home from a meeting at the Presidential Management Staff Building in Malacanang, I took a jeep plying the Pasig-Quiapo Echague route from Arlegui to Quiapo's Quinta Market. At the back of Quinta Market right beside the bridge is the Quiapo Terminal of the Pasig River Ferry.
Between the passenger waiting area and the pontoon dock is a beautification project being undertaken by the Manila City government.
The wide area about a quarter of a kilometer long is being paved with red and off-white stones. This walkway stretches from the edge of Quinta market bordering FEATI university up to the point where the river is met by another stream.
I don't know yet how this will look like when the project is done with all the displaced settlers under the bridge and beside Quinta market. And how will this sort of a promenade be accessible to the public without compromising the security of the ferry terminal.
An update is forthcoming!
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