BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Jeepney operators in this city have voiced their concerns on the Senate’s move to suspend the unpopular public transport modernization program (PTMP), formerly called the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Instead of generalizing the suspension of the program, the transport operators here urged the senators to hold a constructive dialogue and potential adjustments to the program could help mitigate negative effects and support the modernization goals.
Perfecto Yap, member of the Board of Trustee Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI), said they will appeal to the Senate to exempt those transport cooperatives in the city already operating with modern units.
“We cannot simply generalize the suspension because a big amount was already invested. In Iloilo City, about P1.7 billion has been invested in the program. We are also employing 3, 402 employees and feeding an estimated 8, 000 people,” said Yap.
Yap said many operators have invested in new vehicles and technologies in preparation for the program.
Hence, he said the suspension means these investments might not yield the anticipated benefits, leading to financial losses.
“Hopefully, the Senate or the President would be in the process of coming up with exceptions on the proposed suspension,” Yap told reporters.
Rizal Alido, WVATCCI chairman, shared the same view with Yap, adding that several transport cooperatives have been operating with modern units for almost five years already.
Alido said they would pass a resolution requesting President Marcos to exempt Iloilo City in case the suspension would push through.
“Of all highly urbanized cities, only Iloilo City has so far implemented its enhanced LPTRP and everything is already in place. So we expect so much about the exception for Iloilo City,” said Alido.
He said the focus should shift to the continuous support to the government agencies tasked to implement the modernization program. WVATCCI has 14 transport cooperative members, comprising more than 3,000 operators.
The LTFRB in Western Visayas reported a 72.2 percent franchise consolidation rate. In Iloilo City, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) approved 25 rationalized routes out of the original 35 routes before the approval of the LPTRP.
Out of 2,535 traditional jeepneys in the city, the DOTr authorized 1,782 modern jeepneys to ply these 25 approved rationalized routes comprising old and new routes.
The 1,782 approved units have been allocated to 14 transport cooperatives and two corporations.
About 22 senators signed the resolution seeking the temporary suspension of the PUV modernization program.
“While PTMP is integral to the traffic management solution, there is an urgent need to thoroughly review and reassess the impact of the program, to alleviate the fears of the drivers and transport operators who will be directly burdened by its implementation,” the resolution read.
“While the intent of the 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,” it added.
The senator also expressed concern about the potential phaseout of the iconic Philippine jeepneys, which are seen to be replaced by modern jeepneys that are “merely mini-buses imported from other countries.”
They also cited the high number of unconsolidated PUVs, due to insufficient information to educate drivers, operators, and transport groups about the program, and the burden of financing modern PUVs, which greatly exceeds the financial capacity of drivers and operators.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported a total of 36,217 units, or approximately 19 percent of the total jeepneys and other PUVs, have not yet consolidated as of April 30.
“Those who did not participate in the consolidation are now considered as colorum or operating illegally and run the risk of being fined and their vehicles impounded should the drivers continue to ply their routes,” the senators said.
“These small stakeholders, particularly the drivers, who remain unconsolidated, are effectively forced out of their livelihoods with most of them expressing that the only skill they have is driving,” they added.
The senators said the DOTr should address the concerns aired by the affected stakeholders, especially the jeepney operators and drivers.
In signing the resolution, the senators highlighted the valid and urgent concerns of affected drivers, groups, unions, and transport cooperatives, particularly issues on consolidation into cooperatives.
The senators said that these small stakeholders, particularly the drivers who remain unconsolidated are effectively forced out of their livelihoods.
This is caused by the insufficiency of information on the part of the government to educate affected parties as well as the burden of financing the cost of modern PUVs./PN
