Take-off point

Perception of risk in modes of

transportation in Japan and the

Philippines

interview

•  A total of 14 people were interviewed for the study.

•  This sample is assumed to be representative of the population who takes the different public transportation available in Metro Manila

MAIN OBJECTIVE - to gather data on risk

perception on the various modes of transportation

•  They  were  asked  ques.ons  about  their  risk  percep.on  on  the  mode  of  public  transport  that  they  normally  take.  E.g.  What  do  you  think  are  the  health  dangers  or  harm  caused  by  your  daily  trip  in  the  jeep/bus/LRT?  

•   It  was  important  to  focus  the  ques.ons  into  determining  the  perceived  “health  risks”    

•  Two  societal  contexts  are  examined  :  1.  Philippines’  POV  via  Filipino  

commuters  2.  Japanese  POV  through  

Japanese  commuters  

What are the general pros/cons of the different modes of public

transport?

PROS - major livelihood for most Filipinos - route passes through almost all major locations in the metro

CONS -  vehicle exhaust or

usok is detrimental to health

-  too congested -  Exposure to

various pollutants like buga and cigarette smoke

Additional CONS: -  very unsafe dilapidated condition of

some jeeps, risk of hold-up and crimes, passengers sometimes cling/ride on the rear of the jeep, reckless drivers

PROS

- Most are airconditioned

CONS

- usok in nonaircon buses -overcrowding -cigarette smoking - Become susceptible to drastic changes in weather -  the commuting experience is nakakanerbyos (fast driving, accident-prone,reckless drivers)

PROS

-convenience of fast travel -relatively safer since it is for short distances only

CONS

-exposure to usok and pollutants in the air like second-hand cigarette smoke -  accident-prone because of its size -  noisy

PROS

- no harmful exhaust or usok -  air-conditioned -  fast and convenient, less-exhaustive way of traveling

CONS

- Inconvenience during power interruption

- Overcrowding inside the train

PROS

-privacy of travel

- can direct the driver what route to take

CONS

- Questionable about safety (luku-lukong driver)

- air pollution (LPG taxi)

PROS

- Luxury of traveling on your own

- More controlled environment

CONS

-contained (communicability of diseases) - strong air conditioning and hot weather outside (init at lamig)

PROS

- Healthy activity (considered as an exercise)

PROS

-healthy, environment-friendly

Most Dangerous and the Most Safe Modes of Transportation

57%  

7.00%  

36%  

Most Dangerous/Risky Public Transport

Jeep   Tricycle   Bus  

Most Dangerous and the Most Safe Modes of Transportation

56%  33.00%  

11%  

Most Safe Mode of Transportation

MRT/LRT   Private  Car   Bus  

Security

Asked  for  Health  Risks,  a  number  of  interviewees  answered  with  maYers  

that  pertain  to  security.  

How  safe  am  I  when  I  take  this  par2cular  public  transporta2on?  

•  Generally,  one’s  physical  condi.on  is  also  affected  by  other  factors  such  as  the  feeling  of  security.    

What really is “usok” as it is conceived in the minds of Filipinos?

• “Usok” as SMOKE

• “Usok” as AIR POLLUTION

A: Their notion of risk and vulnerability with regards to

“usok” is heavily influenced by their notion of what it is.

Q: Why is it important to point out the differences in the conception of

usok?

“Usok”  as  SMOKE  

•  Smoke In a scientific sense, smoke is a

mixture of solid, liquid and gaseous particles mixed up in air due to combustion.

– Given off by lighted cigarette – Exhaust from the vehicles (buga ng

sasakyan na maitim)

“Usok”  as  SMOKE  

•  Risk is present only in places along roads and in the road itself

•  Vulnerable only when riding open vehicles running in the public roads.

•  Air Pollution In a scientific sense, air pollution is the introduction

of harmful particles in the air.

– “Usok” inside LPG-powered taxis •  “Usok” having levels (of intensity) like that of the white

smoke and black smoke exhaust from jeepneys

•  Risk is present everywhere, especially in highly urbanized places, like the metro.

•  Vulnerable virtually anywhere in urbanized places.

– Riding LPG taxis

Most Common Modes of Transportation in Japan

–  Bicycle – Train

–  Subway –  Bus

– Car – Taxi

•  Too expensive for most people to use

Public transportation is not so developed

– Car – Bus

Percep.on  of  risk  

•  Not so focused on health – More focus on:

•  Accidents •  Security

•  Congestion in trains and buses as health risk

The Japanese Point of View on Transport-Related Risks

Usual view during Tokyo’s rush hour in train terminals

On  the  Interviewees  

•  Being  asked  strictly  about  health  risks  – Modes  of  transporta.on  reduce  chances  to  exercise  •  Riding  buses  instead  of  walking  and  riding  a  bicycle  

–  Emphasis  on  choosing  a  transporta.on  shows  how  much  exercise  one  wants  to  get    

On the Interviewees

Other  Notes  IN GENERAL,

There is a lack of developed notion of

“health risk” in public transportation for the

Japanese people.

The concept of “Usok” as a widely recognized health risk in the Philippines

but not in Japan

“Usok”  as  SMOKE  

•  Vehicle  Exhausts  –  In  Japan  •  Lots  of  vehicles  with  low  emission  levels  

–  Promoted  by  government  and  subsidy  is  offered  

–  In  Philippines  •  There  are  s.ll  a  lot  of  smoke  belchers  

Usok as Smoke

“Usok”  as  SMOKE  

•  CigareYe  Smoking  in  Vehicles  –  In  Japan  •  Not  allowed  •  Separate  “carriers”  for  smokers  and  non-­‐smokers  

–  In  Philippines  •  Not  allowed  but  there  are  s.ll  some  who  choose  not  to  follow  

Usok as Smoke

No.on  of  Health  Risk  

•  When  asked  about  “health  risk”  – Filipinos  •  Think  of  dangers  and  harms  to  one’s  health  

–  Japanese  •  Think  of  possible  hindrances  to  living  a  healthy  lifestyle  and  not  so  much  on  dangers  or  harms  posed  

Notion of Health Risk

What  exactly  cons.tutes  a  HEALTH  RISK?  

Perception of “Health Risk”

PHYSICAL FACTOR

EMOTIONAL  FACTOR  

MENTAL FACTOR

People  have  differing  opinions  on  what  cons.tutes  a  health  risk  •  One  criterion  is  the  physical  risk  to  health  that  a  certain  thing/event  poses  (i.e.  causes  coughing,  headaches)  

Perception of “Health Risk”

Another   less   obvious   criterion   is   with  regards   to   safety   such   as   possible   road  accidents,   hold-­‐upping   incidents,  “kaskaserong”  driver.  

 This  implies  that  what  cons.tutes  good  health  for  these  individuals  is  not  necessarily  wholly  in  terms  of  physical  health,    but  also  emo.onal  and  mental  health  

Perception of “Health Risk”

Responsibility for Illness and Health Care

•  Responsibility  for  Illness  and  Health  Care  in  transporta:on  – Not  the  passenger’s  responsibility  • Uncontrollable  circumstances  such  as  weather,  and  sick  companions  •  The    pervasive  air  pollu.on  in  ci.es  

– Passenger’s  responsibility  •  Passenger’s  choice  and  decision  to  use  the  mode  of  transport  

Risk Communication •  Risk  communica.on  – There  are  laws  aimed  at  addressing  the  problem,  specifically  of,  air  pollu.on  •  But,  due  to  lack  of  communica.on  with  the  base  units  in  the  local  areas,  implementa.on  is  not  achieved.  –  Eg.  Rampant  smoke-­‐belching  jeepney’s  around  the  ci.es  

– Lack  of  effort  from  individuals  to  prac.ce  healthier  habits  in  public  transport  and  lack  of  effort  to  remind  others  

–  Eg.  Coughing  without  covering  the  mouth