FOR decades, jeepney driver and transport activist, Elmer Cordero, also known as “Tatay Elmer, fought alongside fellow drivers in calls for better living conditions and transport rights. He died on Wednesday evening, October 7, at the age of 78.

Cordero suffered a heart attack during a transport strike on September 29. He was rushed to the Caloocan City Medical Center, where he was confined in critical condition. More than a week after this confinement, his family confirmed his death in a Facebook post.

Cordero was a long-time member of Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) where he actively participates in protests and campaigns concerning the welfare of jeepney drivers. Even in his later years, he remained active in PISTON activities, joining protests over rising fuel prices and opposing the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program.

“Sa kabila ng kaniyang edad, walang kapaguran siyang sumasama sa mga kampanya, protesta, at welga para ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mga tsuper, operator, at mamamayan,” PISTON said in a statement honoring Cordero.

In June 2020, Cordero was among six PISTON members arrested following a protest in Caloocan City during the Duterte administration. At the time, the government was pushing the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), which sought to replace traditional jeepneys with newer, modernized public utility vehicles.

Cordero’s death comes amid the continuing struggle of jeepney drivers over their livelihood, as transport groups continue to oppose policies they say threaten the income and survival of traditional jeepney drivers.

Transport rights that Cordero has fought for also extends to commuters, particularly students who rely on jeepneys for daily transportation. Continuous debates over the PUVMP raises concerns on fare hike, accessibility to public transportation, and the displacement of traditional drivers and operators.

As the government pursues transportation modernization, these issues remain relevant on how these reforms would affect the future of the young generations. Cordero’s decades of advocacy reflect a broader struggle over the future of public transportation, one that will continue to affect both today’s commuters and generations to come.

Following his death, PISTON called on its members, fellow drivers, operators, and the public to honor Cordero’s life and advocacy.

“Magsabit tayo ng mga itim na ribbon o mga tela sa ating mga jeep, sa mga komunidad, kasama ng mga panawagan na ipinaglaban ni Tatay Elmer hanggang kaniyang pagpanaw,”  the group said.\

For those who knew him, Cordero leaves behind more than the memory of one of the PISTON 6. He leaves the story of a worker who continued to stand with his fellow drivers, on the road, in protests, and in the collective struggle over the future of the country’s public transportation system.