More than 250 drivers of old public utility vehicles were flagged down and warned on Monday in connection with the government’s program to modernize public utility vehicles.
In line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to take out unroadworthy public transport beginning January this year, the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) launched the campaign dubbed “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” (Remove Inferior and Smoke-Belching Vehicles).
As of Monday afternoon, I-ACT personnel in coordination with the Metro Manila Development Authority apprehended a total of 255 PUVs, most of them caught with defective parts and accessories and for smoke belching along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
Most of those apprehended were jeepney and bus drivers who were also caught not wearing proper uniforms.
I-ACT is also composed of personnel from the MMDA, Land Transportation Office, the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, together with various traffic enforcement units of Metro Manila local government units.
“We will be strictly enforcing the on-road inspection of public transport vehicles,” said Thomas Orbos, MMDA general manager and I-ACT chief.
“All public transport that we see not roadworthy will be stopped and will be issued a subpoena for them to undergo the Motor Vehicle Inspection System,” Orbos added.
Failure to pass the MVIS test, a 60-point test of roadworthiness, will result in the suspension of their franchises until they pass the exam.
Vehicle body (appearance), engine, lights, brakes, tires, horn, battery and smoke emission are some of the items in the MVIS.
According to Orbos, the roadworthiness campaign, upon the initiative of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and with the support of MMDA through Chairman Danilo Lim, will ensure the safety of commuters, among other benefits.
Pilot areas for the campaign include Edsa, Commonwealth Avenue Quezon Avenue, and Marcos Highway.
Orbos, also the Transportation undersecretary for roads and infrastructure, said the transition period given by the government for jeepney owners and operators to convert their old vehicles to new and modern units is three years beginning January 2018.
The government will be spending P843 million next year to jump-start the nationwide implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization program.
Lawmakers said the initial funding for the program, which was officially launched only in June this year, has been included in the 2018 budget of the Department of Transportation.
Under the program, all PUVs that are more than 15 years old will be phased out and replaced with new models equipped with automated fare collection systems, digital security and dashboard cameras, Wi-Fi Internet connectivity, GPS tracking devices and speed limiters.
A combined P2.5-billion special financing plan from two state-run banks will extend low-cost loans to enable PUV operators and drivers to acquire the newly designed passenger buses, vans and jeepneys.
The new PUVs will run either on Euro 4 compliant diesel engines that discharge 68 percent less particulate matter, 57 percent less nitrogen oxides and 50 percent less carbon monoxide, or on electric batteries that have zero exhaust gas emissions.
The modernization program also reforms the franchising system to strengthen control over and regulation of PUVs.
Fewer new franchises will be issued to PUV operators and drivers, who will be compelled to organize themselves into cooperatives or firms to build up accountability, enforcement and compliance.
In the case of jeepneys, for instance, each operator must have a minimum of 10 units to obtain a single franchise. Thus, drivers running their own units will have to consolidate themselves into groups of at least 10 members to get a franchise.
The DOTr is also expected to draw up new PUV routes in consultation with local government units.
An academy will also help reeducate PUV operators and drivers on basic road discipline, courtesy and safety.
The PUV modernization program has become controversial owing to the strong opposition of militant jeepney operators and drivers group under Pinagisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston).