The Automotive Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (ABMAP) asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to resume the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
ABMAP executive director Edgar Manuel strongly appealed to DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez for the immediate re-implementation of the program, saying that the Filipino riding public deserves safe, modern and dignified daily travel.
The PTMP, a key initiative to replace the country’s aging jeepneys and public utility vehicles (PUVs), aims to introduce modern, efficient, low-emission and safer vehicles.
While thousands of modern PUVs are already in use nationwide, ABMAP noted that the majority of commuters still rely on old jeepneys that are unsafe, uncomfortable and outdated for the nation’s growing mobility needs.
“Every Filipino commuter deserves dignity and safety when they ride to work, to school or back home,” Manuel said.
“Thousands are already experiencing the benefits of modern PUVs, but many more are still enduring long, uncomfortable and unsafe rides. We cannot delay modernization any longer,” he said.
ABMAP said reviving the PTMP’s momentum is critical for public safety and national development. The association said modernization would stimulate the local manufacturing sector, generate employment, support local parts makers and strengthen the entire mobility ecosystem.
Modern PUVs also reduce emissions, improve operational efficiency for drivers and operators and provide a more reliable and comfortable experience for commuters, the group said.
ABMAP said it has consistently supported the government’s efforts and collaborated with agencies like the DOTr and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to shape practical guidelines, including technical standards and financing mechanisms for operators and cooperatives.
“The technology, the capability and the readiness are all here,” Manuel said.
“Local manufacturers stand ready to deliver. Operators are prepared to transition. What the nation needs is for the DOTr to take decisive action and bring the PTMP fully back on track. Our communities and our commuters deserve nothing less,” he said.
ABMAP said modernization is a long-term investment in the country’s future, prioritizing safety, sustainability and efficiency. Accelerating the PTMP will strengthen the transport sector and uphold the welfare of millions of Filipinos who use public transport daily, it said.
