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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Thursday, October 19, 2017
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MANILA – A lawmaker called on the House of Representatives to investigate the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program.
House Resolution 833, filed by Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna party-list), sought an inquiry into the planned phaseout of jeepneys 15 years old and older.
“This is ironic as it is tragic,” Zarate said on Wednesday. “Ang mga pobreng drayber at opereytor na nagpapahayag ng kanilang pagtutol sa pagtanggal sa kanilang trabaho at kabuhayan ay sasabihan na lang na magtiis at bahala kayo sa buhay niyo samantalang ang malalaking kumpanya ng kotse, may subsidy.”
He questioned the approval of the application of Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. and Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. for the government’s P27-billion Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS).
According to Zarate, the CARS requires Mitsubishi and Toyota to produce within six years a minimum of 200,000 units per certain brand of vehicle that each company committed for the program.
“What is worse is that instead of subsidizing the rehabilitation and maintenance of current operating jeepneys, the government preferred to subsidize rich foreign automotive companies,” said the lawmaker.
“This so-called PUV modernization program should be probed in earnest, and all sectors to be affected should be heard,” he said.
“Threats, red-tagging and ultimatums cannot hide the fact that this scheme will result to massive livelihood displacement of poor drivers and small operators,” he added.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte – irked by nationwide transport strikes and protests – warned transport groups and operators to modernize their PUVs by year-end or face arrest.
“Sa January 1, kapag hindi niyo na-modernize ’yan, umalis kayo,” said the President.
“Mahirap kayo? Putangina, umalis kayo. Magtiis kayo sa hirap at gutom, wala akong pakialam. It’s the majority of the people, huwag niyong ipasubo ang tao,” he said./PN
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