THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it is open to holding a summit with transport groups to discuss issues with the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Friday, August 9, said a summit will allow stakeholders to talk about the issues and find solutions to these.
Senators earlier sought to suspend the implementation of the PTMP, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected the idea.
Transportation Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said problems with PTMP can be resolved without suspending the program.
“All of the concerns that were raised ay aayusin natin nang dahan-dahan, kaya nating aksyunan ang concerns habang tinutuloy ang programa,”he said.
The DOTr also clarified that the program will be carried out in phases. Bautista stressed that the phaseout of traditional jeepneys will only take place after operators’ and drivers’ consolidation and route rationalization.
The official claimed that transport groups who joined the modernization said their operations have become efficient and profitable.
“Nabibigyan ng tamang benepisyo ‘yung employees nila and because of that naging profitable ang kanilang operations,” he said.
Bautista also noted that they are now working with local government units on route rationalization. (ABS-CBN News)
