Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop during one of the House hearings in this photo taken on May 17, 2023. (Photo from a video posted on the Facebook page of the House of Representatives)
MANILA, Philippines — A House committee is poised to look into the alleged anomalies and corruption regarding the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) on Wednesday, Antipolo City Representative Romeo Acop has said.
Acop said he is currently in the process of securing the approval of House Committee on Transportation panel members to proceed with an investigation into the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) PUVMP.
“We cannot allow corruption to take root in the implementation of the modernization program. If we are to proceed with the modernization of our PUVs, we must make sure there is not even a whiff of irregularity,” Acop, who is the chairman of the committee, said on Sunday.
The lawmaker’s statement comes following a directive from House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to the transportation panel to ascertain if allegations of corruption in the PUVMP have bases.
“We are responding to the directive of Speaker Romualdez to investigate these very serious allegations. We will just get the consensus of members of the committee so we can start our hearings by Wednesday,” Acop said.
While there was no resolution nor a privilege speech on the allegations, the Antipolo City Representative explained that Section 2 of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation enables the panel to proceed with the probe.
Under Section 2, a House committee may conduct a motu proprio investigation on “any matter within its jurisdiction” as long as majority of the committee members vote in support for the inquiry.
“So it is clear that under our rules, we can proceed with the investigation,” Acop noted.
Previously, Romualdez appealed to the DOTr to extend the implementation of the PUVMP until the concerns of transport workers were addressed.
READ: Romualdez appeals for extension of PUV modernization program
“Until these measures aimed at protecting our jeepney drivers are set in place, I appeal to the Department of Transportation to conduct a complete review of the modernization program and extend the period of its implementation,” the Speaker said.
Transport groups have repeatedly called for an extension on the PUVMP’s implementation citing concerns on job displacement and a looming “transport disaster.”
READ: Labor group fears fare hike, job loss due to PUV modernization program
The PUVMP seeks to upgrade the country’s public transportation by replacing traditional PUVs with modern ones which the DOTr has called “environmentally friendly” and more efficient than its older counterparts.