By Darwin G. Amojelar, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it will push through with the nationwide Public Transport Modernization Program despite senators’ efforts to suspend its implementation, saying most of the transport sector members have already signed up for the program.
Transportation Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said the agency would enforce President Marcos’ directive to proceed with the PTMP after the deadline for consolidation lapsed last April 30.
“All transport sector stakeholders who wish to take part in the program are already on board. No one was left behind. On the part of DOTr, we were given a marching order by the President… we are 100 percent ready to go (ahead with modernization),” he said.
He said the issue of modernization is focused on commuter-safety and comfort.
Under the PTMP, jeepney units that are 15 years old will be replaced with Euro 4 engines or electrically-powered engines with solar panel roofing.
“This goes beyond the drivers, the operators. This is about the commuters,” Ortega said.
“We’re talking of millions of commuters everyday. This is a project that the public has been awaiting for decades now,” he added.
The program aims to transform the road transportation system by addressing vehicle safety and quality; route network efficiency; and fleet management, while providing commuters modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) that are comfortable, accessible, safe and affordable.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) defended its decision to allow unconsolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and UV express units to operate in some routes, saying this is a stop-gap measure to ensure enough public transportation in low number of authorized units routes.
“However, they will have to be approved by the Local Public Transport Route Plan or the Route Rationalization Plan,” the LTFRB said.
Under Board Resolution No. 53, the LTFRB said it recognizes that some operators are unable to consolidate because their total number of vehicles falls short of the minimum requirement under the PTMP.
The Board allowed the continued operation of select unconsolidated PUJs and UV express units “provided that their units are currently registered with the Land Transportation Office and have a valid Personal Passenger Accident Insurance Coverage.”
Transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) and Manibela slammed the LTFRB for supposedly “hiding” a board resolution that would allow unconsolidated PUVs to operate in areas with low rate of consolidations.
For his part, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano expressed confidence the majority of PUJ drivers and operators would agree to modernization if a “win-win solution” could be presented to them.
He said drivers, transport groups, and cooperatives would be willing to modernize as long as it does not overly burden them.
“They should also be assured of the sustainability of their livelihoods,” said Cayetano.
He noted that the PTMP presented a “one-size-fits-all” transport modernization program and had not taken into account the varying conditions in different routes.
Aiming for a more efficient and inclusive PTMP, several senators are now seeking to suspend its implementation to allow more time for a thorough review.
Filed on July 30, 2024, Senate Resolution No. 1096 underscores urgent concerns raised by affected drivers, groups, unions, and transport cooperatives aiming to improve the execution of the PTMP, formerly known as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
“While the intent of PTMP is laudable, continuing with the program without threshing out these concerns would go against the Constitutional directive of promoting social justice in all phases of national development,” the senators said in their resolution.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “DOTr says transport modernization to push through despite resistance”
