The Senate committee on public services hearing the planned modernization of public utility vehicles is inclined to recommend a five-year transition period for the modernization to fully take effect, Senator Grace Poe said Tuesday.
Poe, who heads the committee, cited the lack of consultations and the seemingly premature execution of the program in light of the soaring prices of fuel and basic goods.
She said while she fully agreed to modernizing public transportation, including the modernization of the jeepney, she said the policies set forth in the modernization could result in the massive loss of jobs and might only unduly favor the big corporations.
“The LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] did not give the drivers the opportunity to be heard as they were not consulted. They came out with a memo circular,” Poe said.
Poe was referring to several issuances by the LTFRB that sets a March 2019 deadline for the jeepney operators to form a cooperative or a corporation to secure bank loans to buy new jeepneys.
The transport leaders representing jeepney drivers and operators said there were no inclusive consultations on the modernization and they warned that older jeepneys”•although emission-compliant and roadworthy”•could be phased out.
They said thousands of small-time jeepney operators might lose their livelihood and be left without something for their families.
Poe’s panel was also told that the LTFRB opened new or “developmental” jeepney routes without holding a public hearing and without the knowledge of the transport stakeholders.
“What was clear, the government was not yet ready to phase out all public utility vehicles which are compliant in their modernization requirement,” Poe said.
Under pressure by senators and stiff opposition from transport leaders, the LTFRB agreed in principle to hold in abeyance the implementation of the March 2019 deadline for jeepney operators and drivers to consolidate themselves and form a corporation or cooperative to be able to participate in the modernization.
Poe also backed Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto’s suggestion to let market forces decide and implement the modernization voluntarily among the transport operators.”‹
READ: Aquino rules out PUV phaseout in 2019