“Perceived Effects of Jeepney Phaseout on Urban Tourism

Operations”
I. Introduction

The jeepney, a renowned means of transportation in the

Philippines, has always been a vital component of the city scenery and a
representation of Filipino heritage. Nevertheless, the implementation of
recent governmental plans targeting the modernization of the public
transport system has sparked apprehensions regarding the possible
elimination of jeepneys. The proposed discontinuation has ignited debates
and discussions on its potential ramifications on several facets of society,
such as urban tourist operations.

Urban tourism is essential for the economic growth of cities since it

draws in people from both within the country and outside, so benefiting
local companies and creating job opportunities. The presence and
convenience of dependable transport choices are crucial elements in
fostering urban tourism. Given the possibility of discontinuing jeepneys,
a prominent means of transportation for tourists, it is crucial to
comprehend the anticipated impacts of this strategy on urban tourism
activities.

This study seeks to investigate the perceived impacts of the

jeepney phaseout on urban tourism operations in the Philippines. Through
the analysis of viewpoints from tourism operators, local businesses,
tourists, and other relevant parties, our objective is to comprehend the
potential ramifications of this policy on tourism activities, visitor
experiences, and the broader tourism industry.
 We will employ a blend of qualitative and quantitative research
techniques, such as conducting interviews, surveys, and analyzing data, to
obtain valuable insights from tourism operators, community of Antipolo,
jeepney drivers, and tourists. Our objective is to gain a thorough
knowledge of the possible impacts of the jeepney phaseout on urban
tourism by examining people's views, expectations, and worries.

This study will explore multiple facets of urban tourism operations,

including transportation accessibility, visitor mobility, tourist satisfaction,
and the economic influence on local businesses. In addition, we will
analyze the possible difficulties and advantages that may result from the
discontinuation, such as the expansion of alternate modes of
transportation and the possibility of advancements in the tourism
industry.

This research seeks to provide information to community of

Antipolo, researchers, jeepney drivers and policymakers by examining
the perceived impact of the jeepney phaseout on urban tourism
operations. The results of this study can aid in the development of plans
and policies that facilitate a smooth shift to alternative mobility choices
while mitigating any adverse effects on urban tourism.

The primary objective of this research is to offer significant

insights into the probable ramifications of the jeepney phaseout on urban
tourism operations in the Philippines. By comprehending these impacts,
we may strive towards creating sustainable and inclusive measures that
facilitate the modernization of the public transport system and the
expansion of urban tourism, guaranteeing a favorable and rewarding
encounter for both tourists and residents.
II. Significance of the Study

Through this study, everyone will become aware of two different

things: First, what are the effects of the jeepney phaseout on urban
tourism of Antipolo City? Second, how will the jeepney phaseout
contribute to urban tourism?

In particular, the findings of the study will be beneficial to the following:

Community of Antipolo City

-This research study will provide enough information to the community
so they can be aware of the Urban Tourism Operations of Antipolo City
and know how the jeepney phaseout affects them.

Researchers
-The information presented will serve as a guide for future researchers to
develop further studies concerning the perceived effects of jeepney
phaseout on urban tourism Operations, not only in Antipolo City but in
the whole country.

Jeepney drivers
-The study will provide an understanding of the perceived impact on the
livelihood of jeepnet operators or drivers.

Policy Makers
-This study can be a guide to policymakers in making informed decisions
that benefit the city's tourism industry, its residents, and the environment.
III. Theoretical Framework

Large-scale societal changes are implied to require a significant

role from the state in sustainability transition studies. Radical and quick
shifts will need the breadth and depth of authority that only the state can
invoke, from safeguarding specialized industries to fostering
technological innovation and regulating public policy, as more people
realize (Johnstone & Newell, 2018).

Despite pressures towards stagnation, the creation of institutional

entrepreneurship is facilitated by two favorable conditions: the features of
the sector and the social status of the actor (e.g., Battilana et al., 2009).
These field features may include institutional incompatibilities that give
rise to internal conflicts or fissures within the current regime or institution
that allow for the opening of a "window of opportunity" (Geels, 2002). In
contrast, the actor's social position refers to their place within an
organizational field; this is an enabling function since it influences their
ability to obtain the resources required to bring about change. Under
circumstances that facilitate their emergence in spite of institutional
pressures to remain stagnant, the institutional entrepreneur then uses
experimentation to bring about divergent change.

Introducing new formal policies and regulations is one way the

State can create fields that undermine the status quo (Farla et al., 2012;
Johnstone & Newell, 2018). These rules might be essential for
encouraging specialized experimentation, encouraging the creation of
novel technology, or undermining the unsustainable current system.
Governments have played a novel role in facilitating the experimentation
with more sustainable building approaches by proactively creating a
niche through institutional activity, as noted by Fischer and Newig
(2016).

The PUV Modernization Program's Ten Components.

 Regulatory reform The new regulatory policy, called the Omnibus

Franchising Guidelines
 Local Public Transport Route Planning by the Local Government
 Route Rationalization
 Fleet Modernization Under the PUVMP
 Industry Consolidation Operators
 Financing PUV Modernization To modernize their flee
 Vehicle Useful Life Program At the forefront of PUVMP
 Pilot Implementation To support the readiness of the PUV
Modernization Program
 Stakeholder Support Mechanism In coordination with agencies
 Communication Effectively

According to Geels (2018), PUVMP is a transition experiment,

necessitating a reinterpretation of transition as a gradual reconfiguration
of the system. System reconfiguration includes incremental
improvements to the regime, adjustments to the relative sizes of the
regimes, and new combinations of elements from the niche and the
regime that alter system architectures, in addition to the adoption of niche
innovations within the existing regimes. Transition experts may need to
pay more attention to the potential of gradual change due to the
"prevalent focus on radical niche innovations. According to Van den
Bosch (2010), three mechanisms can either cause or facilitate the
sustainability transition: deepening, widening, and scaling up.
"Deepening" refers to a learning process that enables actors to learn as
much as possible about a transition experiment carried out in a specific
setting; the outcome of deepening is a local constellation that satisfies a
future or current social demand in a fundamentally new way.

A constellation, according to van den Bosch (2010), is a sub-

system of society that has a specific function in meeting a particular
societal demand because of its location and relative immaturity; this
constellation is characterized by low influence, instability, and low
dominance in contrast to the regime, which is distinguished by significant
influence, stability, and dominance. The "broadening" approach involves
connecting a transition experiment to other functions or domains and
repeating it under various conditions. Broadening is the process of doing
different tests in diverse environments. The process of incorporating a
transition experiment into the dominant ways of doing, thinking (culture,
and organizing is referred to as "scaling-up" at the level of a societal
system.

This social structure could be the existing regime or a new

specialized regime. Here, trailblazers play a critical role in
experimentation and transition management. In the scaling-up
mechanism, front-runners or first movers progress through "institutional
expansion" to incumbent organizations and "regime players," according
to Bosch (2010). An empowered niche or an emerging niche regime—a
constellation of aberrant structures, cultures, and practices—with more
excellent stability and influence—are what are being scaled up instead of
experimenting. The emergence of fundamental shifts in the dominant
approach to satisfying a societal demand may serve as an indicator of the
outcome of scaling up. Determining the extent to which these changes are
taking place might be made more accessible by using an actor
perspective.

This paper argues that transition studies often overlook the role of
power and politics in a system. It argues that successful transition can
occur when change agents deepen, broaden, and scale up change that
overthrows a regime and when active resistance by incumbent actors is
neutralized. Politics plays a decisive role in defining the landscape,
protecting or exposing niches, and influencing the landscape. The failure
of government actors to take power and politics explicitly into account
during the transition poses a significant risk to its success. The case study
illustrates how politics influences the landscape, resists scaling up at the
regime level, and exerts passive resistance against broadening at the niche
level.

IV. Conceptual Framework

Figure 2. Research Framework

Regarding the first image, there are differences in dealing with the
sustainability of developed and developing countries, according to
research by Wright and Fulton (2005) and Santos et al. (2010). Moreover,
developing country urban areas and rural areas have different needs.
These support the value of localizing a definition of sustainability,
especially for developing countries that have different needs and
capabilities than developed countries. This research positions that
sustainability may look different due to different capacities, resources,
and priorities. It aims to give a sustainability model that will be useful for
planners and decision-makers to identify which factors are included to
become sustainable. For the second image, this research used an online
tool called 'wordclouds'17) to generate a picture based on answers that
described "better normal transport" in Philippine cities. White's
"Sustainability: I know it when I see it" (White, 2013) created an image
of sustainability using frequently used words from more than one hundred
—the application of the PUV Modernization Program and Public
Transport Modernization.

V. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to address the following research questions

related to the perceived effects of jeepney phaseout on urban tourism
operations in Antipolo City, Rizal:

1. What is the demographic profile of jeepney passengers and jeepney

drivers in terms of:

1.1Age;
1.2Gender;
1.3Monthly Family Income; and
1.4Occupation?
2. What do jeepney passengers and jeepney drivers encounter the
problems due to the jeepney phaseout in Antipolo City, Rizal, specifically
in terms of:
 2.1 Accommodation for the large number of passengers, considering the
potential shortage of alternative transportation options?
2.2 Affordability of modern jeepneys for the jeepney drivers and
operators?
2.3 Fare increase and its impact on the affordability of transportation
for passengers?
2.4 Livelihood of jeepney operators and drivers, considering the
potential loss of income and job opportunities?

3. What are the perceived impacts of the jeepney phaseout on jeepney

passengers and jeepney drivers in Antipolo City, Rizal, in terms of their
daily commuting experiences, convenience, and overall satisfaction with
the transportation system?

4. Is there a significant difference in the contributing factors that

determine the perceived effects of jeepney phaseout on jeepney
passengers and jeepney drivers in Antipolo City, Rizal, such as
demographic characteristics, income levels, or occupation?

VI. Hypothesis of the Study

This study assumes that if everyone has enough knowledge on how

jeepney phaseout affects urban tourism, they might:

H0: The Jeepney phaseout doesn't help preserve urban tourism operations
in Antipolo City.
H1: The Jeepney phaseout helps preserve urban tourism operations in
Antipolo City.
VII. Scope and Limitation of the Study

In this study, we will examine how the jeepney phaseout program

is perceived by stakeholders in Antipolo City, Philippines, and its
implications for urban tourism operations. The study concentrates on
Economic Impact, which will evaluate whether the phaseout might affect
the tourism industry of Antipolo City in terms of job creation, income
generation, and general contribution to the local economy and
Commuters behavior as well as a number of important tourist destinations
in Antipolo City that are likely to be influenced by the cessation of
jeepneys. It may capture some immediate consequences that can be
experienced due to phasing out jeepneys, but it does not look at how this
affects tourism operations over time or how it relates to global trends.
However, it ought to be acknowledged that beyond such immediate
effects on tourism operations, this kind of move has other unintended
repercussions. However, such an investigation could face several
constraints, including data availability, participant’s readiness to share
experiences, and researchers’ time and resources, among others. The
research timeframe outlines a comprehensive approach to investigating
the perceived effects of the jeepney phaseout on urban tourism operations
in Antipolo City. The one-month data collection phase ensures the
thorough gathering of information from various perspectives. The one-
month data analysis phase allows for in-depth examination of quantitative
and qualitative data. Finally, the one-month reporting and dissemination
phase ensures impactful communication of research findings to various
stakeholders. In conclusion, it will take three months, from February to
April 2024, to investigate the perceived effects of urban tourism
operations in Antipolo City. Thus, This paper argues that one should take
into account specific features characterizing Antipolo City, for instance,
its peculiar tourist attractions, transportation infrastructure, and reliance
on jeepneys for accessibility.

VIII. Definition of Terms

For a better understanding of this study, the terminologies used are
different, either theoretically or operationally.
CRISIS. This refers to adverse shifts in human or environmental
situations, particularly when they happen suddenly and without warning.
EFFECTS. Effects refer to the consequences or outcomes produced by a
particular action, event, or problem.
FINANCIALLY. This refers to issues with money, debt, assets, income,
and spending. For someone to reach financial stability, growth, and
success, it refers to the financial part of a person's life, business, or
anything else.
INCREASE. This refers to becoming or making a more significant
amount.
JEEPNEY. An affordable public transportation option in the Philippines
is this intriguing-looking vehicle. For pick-up and drop-off passengers,
jeepneys follow specific routes, which are often painted on their sides or
shown on their windshields.
LIVELIHOOD. This refers to doing an everyday task or an action to
earn money or to get an income.
OPERATIONS. It refers to doing a practical assignment or ` of a process
requiring implementation of theories or techniques in real life
PERCEIVED. The term Perceived describes how someone understands
or interprets something in light of their beliefs and sensory experiences. It
includes all of the mental operations that go into identifying, arranging,
and interpreting sensory-based information that affects a person's
feelings, ideas, and behavior.
PHASEOUT. To discontinue accessing, generating, or engaging in by-
phases
PRESERVE. This refers to preserving the original culture and keeping
the customs or traditions
SATISFACTION. This refers to the Fulfillment of one's wants, wants to
get, or expectations, or the enjoyment this brings.
URBAN TOURISM. Urban tourism, also known as city travel and
tourism, is a type of travel that takes place in the whole of people's
destinations.