DOTr not in favor for another jeepney consolidation extension

MANILA: The Department of Transportation does not intend to further extend the deadline of December 31 for operators of public utility vehicles (PUV), including traditional jeepneys, to consolidate their operations.

Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista stated that the extension is aimed at giving operators time to organize a cooperative in accordance with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

A cooperative must be formed with a larger fleet of PUVs by at least 15 jeepney drivers or individual franchise owners.

According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), there would be a reassessment of certain aspects of the PUVMP, but the “whole program” will be put into effect under the Marcos administration.

LTFRB Central Office Technical Division Chief Joel Bolano noted that the PUVMP was launched in order to improve the system for the commuters, as well as the drivers and operators.

Bautista added that the PUVMP is about delivering reliable, comfortable, and efficient public transportation. He continued by saying that the program would also create more job opportunities for mechanics, administrative personnel, and dispatchers.

The DOTr attempted to persuade the transport group Manibela not to conduct a week-long strike by reaching out to them to address the issues with the program.

Bautista also assured commuters that there are measures in place to mitigate the effects of the transport strike. Available vehicles from other agencies are being used to transport stranded passengers.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed four air-conditioned buses, two non-air-conditioned buses, and 13 commuter vans for libreng sakay (free rides) for the entire week.

Meanwhile, the City of Manila has a fleet of 10 buses, 17 pickups, three trucks, two transporters, and one command unit from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free e-trikes will also be available on the city's secondary roads.

Muntinlupa City has also deployed trucks, buses, flexi vans, and e-jeepneys from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Taguig City also offers free rides during peak hours from 5 a.m.  to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The city's official logo and the sign “Libreng Sakay hatid ng City of Taguig” will be displayed on the vehicles that are part of this program.

Valenzuela City has also deployed eight Libreng Sakay trucks, while Las Piñas City offers free rides from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Navotas City also offers free rides on its NavoTour buses and utility trucks from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Service vans are also being used by 18 barangays in Navotas City to offer rides from C4 to Tangos (and vice versa) and from SRV to C4 (and vice versa).

In addition to providing free rides like the other cities, San Juan City has also suspended the regular TODA routes to allow tricycles to transport passengers anywhere in San Juan.

MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Procopio Lipana also warned the drivers who might exploit the transport strike, saying, “We will have our full deployment in the MMDA and in the Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office and we are on alert in case there will be incidents of snubbing and overcharging passengers.”

Pasang Masda President Obet Martin stated that a transport strike is not the answer to their concerns and urged his fellow transport workers to cooperate with the administration and support the PUVMP.

“Ang mga operator, magku-consolidate to form a cooperative or corporation. Sila din po ang stockholder. Hindi mawawala ang kanilang karapatan. Kanila po iyan sapagkat ayon doon sa PUVMP, kailangan magsama-sama kayong mga affected operators to form a cooperative or corporation para ito po ang maglu-loan sa mga government bank and private bank. Hindi po i-entertain ang individual operator (Once the operators consolidate to form a cooperative or corporation, they will be the stockholder. They will not lose their rights. It will be theirs because under the PUVMP, affected operators must come together to form a cooperative or corporation so they can loan from government and private banks since individual operators will not be entertained),” Martin said.

Photo from Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board

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