Remarkable women in the
PHILIPPINES

Why the Philippines?

In the Philippines, women workers in the jeepney sector are playing a pivotal role in advocating for a just transition for jeepney workers, who are facing significant challenges due to the government’s push to modernise public transportation. Jeepneys, a cultural icon and the backbone of the country’s public transport system, are being converted from combustion-engines to electric, to reduce pollution and improve efficiency. However, this transition threatens the livelihoods of thousands of traditional jeepney drivers and operators, many of whom cannot afford the high costs of upgrading to the new jeepneys.

“They expect us to give up the one thing we own – The Jeepneys we struggled to buy.”

Women workers are stepping up to address these challenges. One strategy is to organise worker cooperatives to ensure that jeepney drivers and operators are not left behind in the shift to sustainable transportation. These cooperatives empower workers by pooling resources, sharing costs, and collectively owning and operating jeepneys, making the transition more financially viable. Women leaders are at the forefront of these efforts, advocating for fair policies, access to financing, and training programmes to help workers adapt to the new technology and to manage the cooperatives in a way that guarantees access to social security, stable working hours and decent pay.

ITF affiliates like the National Confederation of Transport workers’ Unions (NCTU) are pushing for a just transition that prioritises social equity. They argue that modernisation should not come at the expense of marginalised workers. Women activists are raising awareness about the importance of inclusive policies, ensuring that the voices of jeepney workers and their families are heard in decision-making processes. Another affiliate, PISTON, rejects the modernisation programme, highlighting that it would strip small-time operators of their democratic control over their vehicles and livelihoods. They are demanding a pro-people just transition based on the needs of workers and the poor. As part of this strategy, women workers in PISTON have campaigned for retaining ownership of their jeepneys and franchises.