Group hits PUV modernization program

 

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program is “anti-poor,” the multisectoral group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said on Wednesday.

Five days before the December 31 deadline for mandatory franchise consolidation, Bayan criticized President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s stance on the program, saying that he is not considerate of poor Filipinos who will shoulder the cost of the PUV modernization program. 

“Marcos [Jr.] cannot feign ignorance of the facts and should at least have some compassion for the situation of the drivers and operators. The hardline stance of Malacanang on the deadline shows callousness towards the poor,” the group said in a statement.

“The entire framework for modernization is not pro-poor and is biased towards foreign imports and big business,” it added.

On December 12, Marcos Jr. denied an appeal for a deadline extension and pointed out that the government “cannot let the minority cause further delays” as 70 percent of all operators have already committed to and consolidated under the PUV modernization program. 

Data, however, from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) showed that approximately 73.5 percent or 31,058 traditional jeepney units in the National Capital Region are yet to consolidated days before the deadline.

This means that over 30,000 jeepney drivers and operators in Metro Manila risk losing their jobs if they fail to consolidate their franchises into cooperatives or corporations on December 31.

In previous interviews, transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) projected that over 80 percent of small-time PUV operators might lose their jobs if the deadline pushes through. 

Bayan also questioned the LTFRB’s insistence on enforcing the deadline despite being faced with the data. 

“Malacañang should now rescind the December 31 deadline for mandatory franchise consolidation, and junk the entire program,” the group demanded.

Meanwhile, Piston has appealed to the Supreme Court to suspend the implementation of the PUV modernization program and the December 31 mandatory franchise consolidation deadline.

Piston and other transport groups warned of a “worse mass transport crisis” if the government insists on its hardline stance on the modernization program.