Various transport groups hold a press conference on Friday, August 9 to express their gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for deciding to push the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP). (INQUIRER.net/DIANNE SAMPANG)
MANILA, Philippines — Various groups on Friday called on the Insurance Commission (IC) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) to increase the insurance for vehicular accidents to ensure the safety and well-being of motorists and victims.
In a press conference, Pasang Masda National President Roberto Martin said that the Magnificent 7 and other transport groups wrote a formal letter dated Thursday, August 8 to Commissioner Atty. Reynaldo Regalado of IC and LTO Chief Atty. Vigor Mendoza.
Magnificent 7 is composed of Pasang Masda, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Stop and Go Coalition, and UV-Express Federation of the Philippines.
“Alam natin, halos araw-araw may naaaksidente. Kaya po kami, nag-iisip ang grupo ng magandang benepisyo doon sa mabibiktima ng public transport driver, private car owners, at para po sa kapakanan ng kanilang pamilya,” said Martin.
(We all know that people get into accidents every day. That’s why the group thought of the benefits for the victims of public transport drivers and private car owners. This is also for the welfare of their families.)
READ: DOH: 12,000 killed on roads each year
“Wala po kaming interes doon kung hindi ‘yong mga maiiwan [na] makatanggap ng kung hindi man sapat, tama lang po para doon sa maiiwan ng mga naaksidente,” he added.
(We don’t have any other interest except for ensuring that those left behind receive not necessarily a lot, but enough for those who have lost someone in an accident.)
The groups called for an increase in the death indemnity for compulsory monitor vehicle liability insurance from P200,000 to P400,000, and permanent disability indemnity from P50,000 to P100,000. The groups also wanted the all-risk insurance to have property loss indemnity worth P100,000.
In a radio interview last May, Department of Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that an average of 12,000 Filipinos are killed every year due to road accidents. Domingo also said that road accidents in the country increased by 39 percent from 2011 to 2021.
“Road traffic deaths in 2011 were 7,938. This went up to 11,096 in 2021. Of these deaths, 84 percent were males. Road accidents are a major cause of deaths of children in the Philippines,” he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. refused to accept the Senate’s proposal to reject the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP), saying that more than 80 percent of jeepney operators and drivers already consolidated their transport units.
“Well, I disagree with them (senators). They are saying that this was rushed. The [program] has been postponed seven times. Those who have been objecting and asking for [its] suspension are in the minority. Eighty percent have already consolidated,” said Marcos in an interview on Wednesday.
READ: PUV modernization still a go, says President
The Magnificent 7, a pro-PUVMP, expressed their gratitude to the President for his stance on the program, saying that they hope that this will ease the doubts of the operators and drivers.
“Sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa ating modernisasyon, sa transportasyon, eh mawalan na ng agam-agam ang bawat isa, lalo na ang maliit na operator na talaga pong pumasok sa loob ng konsolidasyon kahit sa iba’t ibang mga kooperatiba,” said Jephraim Gochangco, National President of FEJODAP.
(To all who support modernization in transportation, set aside any doubts and fully join the consolidation, especially the small operators, even if it’s through different cooperatives.)