green transport policies vs jeepney drivers

 My granddaughter is home because there is a big transportation strike in Manila and her students won't be able to get to school.

Apparently the government is modernizing the jeepney fleet, replacing aged Jeepneys with modern diesel and electric diesels. But the drivers can't afford to buy these vehicles, so as a result have gone on strike.

how many jeepneys are involved?

Floranda said about 80,000 drivers and operators participated on the first day of their protest action.

The SouthChinaMorningPost reports:

Philippines’ jeepney drivers strike again as modernisation deadline looms: ‘it will bury us in debt’.

Jeepney drivers in the Philippines launched a three-day strike on Monday against a looming December 31 deadline by the government that will force owners to replace aged vehicles with environmentally friendly models, in what is seen by the industry as authorities’ attempt to snuff out livelihoods..

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the traditional jeepney was a WWII jeep turned into a jitney or small bus where people can go in and out the back.

Often they are decorated by their owners. But many are old and produce pollution, hence the government trying to replace them with more modern engines that don't pollute so much, and even an electric vehicle

. Wikipedia article here. has a section about e vehicles:

Electric jeepneys are now widely deployed in several parts of Metro Manila and in some provinces, either as a staple transportation that completely replaces conventional jeepneys or as a service vehicle. The deployments were in response to calls for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the fluctuations in oil prices. These E-jeepneys will also be fitted with a Panta Card reader as part of the transportation unification set out by the DOTr. E-jeepneys have come into the economic question as the average cost per kWh of electricity in the Philippines is unsustainable for owner-operators. However, considering the uncertainty in diesel prices, E-jeepneys seem more economical in the long run compared to diesel-fueled jeepneys.

and this will hurt many owner/drivers. Will the gov't help them find alternative jobs?

 and the modernization will end a popular cultural heritage.

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update: I should add that the pollution in Manila is terrible (I have to use an ashma inhaler when I visit). So this is a good policy. However, unless you have in place a policy to aid the independent drivers who will not be allowed to use their old jeepneys that they rely on for an income, then you will run into resentment.

This is a commercial but gives you an idea of the life of a jeepney driver...