Despite a series of talks with the government, transport group Manibela on Thursday still rejected the consolidation of operators into a cooperative under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Interviewed on ANC, Manibela president Mar Valbuena clarified his group—which was on the second day of a nationwide strike – was not against the modernization of PUVs per se but are opposing the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.
Unlike existing PUV cooperatives, “old” jeepney operators under the PUVMP’s consolidation process must apply for a “big, full or complete” loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines or Land Bank of the Philippines to be able to acquire new modernized PUVs, he said.
“Our units may be pulled out by the bank should we fail to pay our amortizations. What is our guarantee that this will not happen? Will the government provide us with a subsidy?” Valbuena asked.
“Instead of acquiring modernized units, why not modernize the old jeepneys to make it environment-friendly and roadworthy?” he said, noting P500,000 to P1 million would be enough to rehabilitate a traditional jeepney and make it look brand-new.
