PUV manufacturers call foul on consultations for nat’l standards
MANILA, Philippines — Local jeepney manufacturers on Friday called out the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for not including them in the consultations for the Philippine National Standards (PNS) on public utility vehicles (PUVs)
During a Senate committee on public services hearing, Francisco Motor Corporation chair Elmer Francisco said that he and Sarao Motors production supervisor Edgardo Sarao were not consulted when the PNS was being made, despite being long-time manufacturers of jeepneys.
Francisco and Sarao motors have been manufacturing traditional jeepneys for over 70 years.
“Ang kinonsulta ng DTI para gawin ang Philippine National Standards na manufacturers, ay mga manufacturers ng bus sa ibang bansa. So paano mo i-momodernize ‘yung jeep, kung ang ikokonsultahin mo, mga foreign manufacturer ng bus?” said Francisco.
(The manufacturers that DTI consulted to make the Philippine National Standards are bus manufacturers from another country. So how could you modernize the jeep when you consult with foreign bus manufacturers?)
He said this was the reason why the Philippine National Standards were not made for jeepneys but for buses instead.
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“Hindi nila sinabi sa amin na kami ‘yung mga manufacturers ng tunay na jeepney dito sa Pilipinas, hindi sa ibang bansa.” he added.
(They did not tell us, the manufacturers of true jeepneys here in the Philippines, not in other countries.)
According to Francisco, opening the market to foreign manufacturers will lead to workers in the country losing their jobs.
Furthermore, it would make the vehicles more expensive for jeepney drivers and operators to acquire since these are imported.
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He added that local manufacturers can make modernized jeepneys. However, they have yet to receive a certificate of compliance from the Department of Transportation (DOTr). — Felice Nafarrete, INQUIRER.net intern
