Traditional Jeepney Driver Offers Free Rides to Passengers as Christmas Gift
CHRISTMAS GIFT – A traditional jeepney driver in the city of Bacolod surprised passengers by offering free rides.
Nichollen Fhaye De Vera, a Facebook user, expressed her thanks to a jeepney driver for the unexpected Christmas gift of a complimentary trip from Libertad to Bata. The post garnered various reactions from the online community.
De Vera shared the encounter in her post, recounting a conversation with the driver during the journey. The driver informed the passengers that they need not pay for the ride, citing it as his Christmas gift to them.
The driver even hinted that it might be his last trip, explaining that they won’t be operating after January 1, 2023.
The generous driver maintained a positive vibe during the ride, engaging passengers in conversation. When asked about the fate of traditional jeepneys, the driver shared that they face the challenge of being phased out, referring to a directive signed by President Marcos.
He reiterated that Marcos was the reason for their impending displacement, making light of the situation.
In a previous report, a jeepney driver bursts into tears as phaseout of old jeepneys approaches
Nichollen noted that the driver’s eyes welled up at times, but he continued to smile while sharing his story. The passenger expressed her sadness, realizing that the driver’s livelihood was at stake due to the impending jeepney modernization program.
The post ended with a heartfelt thank you from De Vera to the unnamed driver. She expressed her gratitude for the free ride and assuring him of prayers.
She acknowledged the challenges faced by traditional jeepney drivers as a result of the government’s jeepney modernization program, which had a December 31 deadline for operator consolidation.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
