DOTr nixes call to junk PUV modernization plan despite planned transport strike

FILE PHOTO: Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday nixed the call to junk the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, which would phase out traditional jeepneys and UV express units in the country.

Bautista made the statement in light of various transport groups’ planned week-long strike starting March 6, to protest the impending phaseout of traditional PUV units.

“‘Yung pagbasura ng modernization program natin ay siguro ay hindi naman tama. Kailangan i-modernize natin ‘yung ating PUVs,” he said in a chance interview in Manila when asked if the call to junk the program is off the table.

(I think the junking of our modernization program is not right since we need to modernize our PUVs.)

He said the government would hold a dialogue with transport groups to ask them not to push through with the transport strike and to thresh out any of their issues on the implementation of the modernization program.

Transport groups earlier urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to scrap the June 30, deadline for traditional jeepney operators and drivers to join cooperatives or risk losing their franchises or provisional authorities.

Bautista said the government is “flexible” in moving the current deadline, and this can be brought up during their dialogue.

He said he will also meet with LTFRB officials to discuss the deadline and will urge them to make a decision on whether to extend it or not before the planned transport strike next week.

“I will encourage them to make a decision,” the DOTr chief said when asked when the LTFRB is expected to make a decision.

He said the government is also allowing some areas to postpone the implementation of the modernization program if they are unable to purchase or afford modern vehicles.

“Ang ine-exempt natin ay ‘yung mga areas na hindi malagyan ng modern na equipment, ibig sabihin na habang hindi natin nakukumpleto ‘yung delivery ng modern equipment, hindi namin masusuportahan ‘yung demand sa market, we will continue to allow them,” Bautista said.

(The areas we exempt are those where the delivery of modern vehicles have not yet been finished and we cannot support the demand in the market.)

While he expressed confidence that the transport strike will not push through as long as the issues have been threshed out, Bautista said the DOTr had talked to several government agencies that could lend out vehicles to augment public transportation.

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JPV