State of the Transport Address

Introduction

On Mendiola Street in busy Manila, a week prior to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's second State of the Nation Address, transport workers gathered with placards, banners and raised fists to ensure their collective voices were heard during their very own “State of the Transport Address”.

Jeepney drivers and small operators, led by PISTON, organised a protest on 17 July 2023, to demand that the Marcos Jr administration take notice of the pressing issue affecting their livelihood – the planned jeepney phaseout by the government. The national government had set the deadline for the phaseout on 31 December 2023, potentially putting thousands of jeepney drivers and small operators at risk of losing their source of income.

This photo essay captures one of the many protest actions of jeepney drivers and small operators in the Philippines as they converge just a few metres away from the Presidential Palace in Mendiola, Manila, a symbolic space that has been synonymous with the people's demand for change. These images attempt to unveil one of the many forms of collective action and to demonstrate how workers’ unified voices echo through placards and chants, by demanding substantial shifts in policies affecting their livelihood and the greater society.

These photos delve into the significance of solidarity and the pivotal role it plays in igniting the flames of progress and ensuring that the call for change can never be ignored.

Storytelling Intro

A week prior to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA), jeepney drivers and small operators led by PISTON held a protest action called the “State of the Transport Address”. This protest was a way to put pressure on the national government to start recognising the real state of the nation, especially the state of jeepney drivers and operators, who are always on the brink of losing their livelihood due to unfair policies under the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernisation Programme. Indeed, this programme seeks to phase out traditional jeepneys by the end of the year and replace them with more expensive and imported minibuses to be shouldered by the workers themselves. It is estimated that around 300,000 jeepney drivers and operators will be displaced if the Marcos Jr administration goes ahead with the PUV Modernisation Programme, without a fair and just transition.

The photo essay captures just one of the many demonstrations where workers work to forge stronger unities and collective action to trigger political and economic change.

Reflections

When workers unite in collective action, their individual voices gain strength in numbers. Issues that might be dismissed as isolated concerns gain greater attention and are harder to ignore when expressed as a collective demand. It is important for workers, especially young workers, to realise that there is strength in unity.

History has shown us that our struggles as workers are won through long and hard collective endeavours. Young workers can learn from the resilience of their predecessors and by understanding that change often takes time and is a result of sustained effort. This can only happen by getting together, strengthening our unions, and building deeper connections and solidarity with other workers and communities. This can help us remain committed and motivated, even in the face of setbacks.

What's Next for Me

My union work in PISTON covers a lot of media tasks, both traditional and new types of media. Besides gaining the proper skills required to capture photos and tell stories through images, my greatest takeaway from this experience is being able to showcase the stories that really matter and amplifying through photographs the voices that need to be heard.

The protest action showcased in my photo essay is just one of the many actions we have to take to slowly bring forward the systemic changes we need and struggle for – for a just society. As a young worker, it is valuable for me in my own little way to contribute to a greater cause by simply taking photographs on my phone and sharing them with the world. After all, these are not just my stories; they are the stories of every worker struggling for a better world.