MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will push through with its program to modernize public utility vehicles (PUV) despite dropping its plan to phase out 170,000 jeepney units.
During the recent deliberation on the agency’s 2020 budget, it was revealed that the DOTr had agreed to let public utility jeepneys remain on the roads “as long as they pass the motor vehicle inspection system or roadworthiness test.”
READ: DOTr: Old, but roadworthy jeepneys OK on roads beyond 2020
In a statement on Thursday, the DOTr denied having issued a statement saying that the PUV modernization program will no longer push through.
“Ang nabanggit ay kung sakali mang mabigo ang mga operator ng mga lumang jeepney na mag-modernize ng kanilang mga unit pagsapit ng Hulyo 2020, pansamantala ay pahihintulutan muna sila ng DOTr na makapamasada sa kondisyong papasa ang kanilang mga lumang unit sa roadworthiness test,” it said.
(What was mentioned was should jeepney operators fail to modernize their units on July 2020, the DOTr will still allow them to operate as long as the units pass the roadworthiness test.)
Jeepney operators will be granted a provisional authority (PA) valid for only one year. It will have to undergo the test again after one year.
To apply for a PA, jeepney operators must submit a petition for consolidation in June 2020. They must also submit a petition stating their intention to join the modernization program, the DOTr said.
Should they fail to submit their petitions, the DOTr said that their routes will be opened to applicants from cooperatives that were able to modernize their units.
“Oras na may PUVMP-compliant na kooperatiba o korporasyon na ang mabigyan ng prangkisa sa rutang tinatakbuhan ng lumang jeepney, automatic na makakansela na ang PA na ibinigay dito,” the agency said.
DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said the PAs to be given are “not forever.”
“If they don’t file a petition and they don’t modernize, canceled na ang PA nila,” she said.
The DOTr said it will remain steadfast in its resolve to push through with the modernization program “to make public transportation safer, reduce pollution, reinstate the dignity in commuting, and elevate the state of living of operators and drivers.”