CONTINUING PROTEST | A streamer at a terminal for jeepneys plying the Paco-Rotunda Nagtahan route in Manila expresses the unyielding position of the local transport association about the government’s PUV modernization program in this photo taken on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) failed to explain how the mandatory franchise consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUVs) will help reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Facebook post on Wednesday by transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston).
Last December, Piston submitted a petition to the Supreme Court (SC) to block the PUV modernization program.
“In response to the petition filed by Piston in December 2023, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), representing the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), claims that the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) aims to fulfill the country’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or the polluting smoke emitted by traditional jeeps,” Piston said in the Facebook post in Filipino.
“Nevertheless, they are unable to explain how the mandatory franchise consolidation of the PUVMP and its deadlines are related to purportedly meeting the country’s ‘climate commitments.”
READ: OSG to SC: Gov’t is using ‘valid police power’ in PUV franchise consolidation
READ: Piston to SC: Stop gov’t orders for jeepney upgrade, Dec 31 deadline
The group also reiterated that compulsory franchise consolidation has no connection to any climate response initiatives.
It will only result in a severe loss of livelihood for small-scale drivers and operators and the outright takeover by large corporations of the control of our public transportation system, the group said.
On Tuesday, the DOTr and LTFRB asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition filed by Piston, citing a lack of merit.