INSTEAD of pushing through with the April 30 deadline, a transport coalition urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to pick priority areas where it can ensure proper implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Kenneth Abante of Move as One Coalition, in a media forum on Friday, April 26, said the government would only be biting more than it can chew if it tries to enforce the program “everywhere, all at once with very little budget and staffing.”
“Mas mahalaga po na ma-monitor ‘yung mga tinatawag nating service plans kung saan, tayo, bilang commuter, we can expect a proper level of service: frequent ‘yung public transport trips, may designated stops, may designated schedule… That can only happen if the government focuses its attention in these priority routes,” he said.
The group also pointed out that the government itself has yet to finish the crafting of local public transport route plans, which consolidated transport entities are supposed to follow to improve commuter service quality.
“So kung meron pang mga kailangan i-prepare na hindi pa na-prepare, bakit kailangan i-pwersa ‘yung April 30 deadline?” said Abante.
Under the modernization program, individual PUV operators who fail to consolidate into transport cooperatives or corporations will no longer be allowed to operate by May 1.
The group said this would only further cripple the country’s public transport supply, and make the lives of commuters worse, especially at a time when the Philippine National Railways has suspended its operations in Metro Manila and amid moves to ban e-bicycles and e-tricycles on major roads.
Abante said the government should also give jeepney drivers an incentive to consolidate and not just force or scare them into complying.
He said one of the ways this can be done is by partnering with local government units in the implementation of service contracting which will guarantee income for the consolidated transport groups.
The National Confederation of Transport Workers Union (NCTU) vouched for this approach, noting that in Batangas, one of the cooperatives affiliated with them, was able to buy two modern jeepneys from the proceeds they got from service contracts.
For his part, DOTr Undersecretary Andy Ortega, who joined the forum online, vowed to continue engaging with the transport coalition and find a way to incorporate their recommendations.
“Ang tutok na po namin, how to move forward by improving further the program. ‘Yung na-mention niyo pong equity subsidy, service contracting, capacity building, ‘yung budget sa government, etc… kung hanggang saan ko kayang ipu-push base sa aking prinsipyo, paniniwala, gagawin ko ‘yun,” said Ortega. (ABS-CBN News)
