MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Friday that the decision on where to buy modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) is left with operators and drivers.
In a press conference, LTFRB Technical Division chief Joel Bolano said the agency has no say where PUV corporations and cooperatives must purchase their modernized units under the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
His statement was a response to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III’s call for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to name the contractors who will provide the up-to-date PUVs under the scheme.
READ: Let Congress decide on PUV modernization – Pimentel
“‘Yung pagbili po ng sasakyan ng ating mga transport service entities (TSE) ay wala pong mandato doon and DOTr atska LTFRB. Ang role lang po ng government is to provide the Philippine national standard,” Bolano explained.
(The DOTr and LTFRB have no mandate over the purchase of vehicles by our transport service entities. The government’s only role is to provide the Philippine national standard.)
“‘Yung pagpili po ay nasa TSE, kung saan po sila bibili [at] anong klase po ang bibilhin nila,” he added.
(The choice is up to the TSE, where they will buy [and] what kind [of unit] they will buy.)
READ: DOTr rules out fare hike due to PUV modernization
In the same press conference, LTFRB officer-in-charge Riza Paches stressed that the government is not forcing PUV cooperatives and corporations to buy the most expensive modernized unit. The purchase of vehicles may be done through a loan.
When asked how many certified manufacturers are local and foreign, Paches only said that the “majority” of them are local and did not provide more information.
The up-to-date vehicles are categorized into Class 1, 2, and 3 – they vary in capacity, seating configuration, features, and price range, according to a DOTr press release issued Friday and distributed to media members during the press conference.
The DOTr noted that each design underwent certification processes from the Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center, Land Transportation Office, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources before the DOTr issued compliance certificates.
READ: PUV modernization: Understanding defiance of operators, drivers
Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairman Ferdinand “Andy” Ortega said the DOTr welcomes a congressional inquiry regarding the manufacturers of modernized units under the PUVMP.
“On the part of the DOTr family, we welcome and appreciate such invitations,” Ortega said during the press conference.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday directed the House committee on transportation to conduct a motu proprio investigation on claims that unscrupulous activities have tainted the PUVMP.
“The reports allege that existing transport officials are in cahoots with previous officials in negotiating for the imported modern jeepney units that will replace the old units,” the House of Representatives leader said in a statement.
READ: Romualdez appeals for extension of PUV modernization program