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 — Transport groups dubbed as Magnificent 7 said on Friday that they want to hold a dialogue with Senate President Francis Escudero regarding the upper chamber’s plans for the transportation sector.
“Ang Magnificent 7 ay gagawa ng pormal na liham sa kagalang-galang na Chiz Escudero, Pangulo ng Senado, at makipag-ugnayan kami kasama po ang opisina at iba pang grupo dito… at mapag-usapan kung ano ba ang tulong nila sa aming hanay ng transportasyon,” said Pasang Masda National President Roberto Martin in a press conference.
(The Magnificent 7 will file a formal letter for the honorable Senate President Chiz Escudero for us to coordinate together with the offices and other groups here… and talk about what they can be of help to our transportation sector.)
Magnificent 7, a pro-public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP), 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.
“Makikipag-uganayan kami para sa kaayusan at kabutihan ng hanay ng transportasyon,” added Martin.
(We will coordinate for the welfare of the transportation sector.)
A Senate proposal to suspend the implementation of the PUVMP was rejected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, saying that 80 percent of drivers and operators nationwide have already consolidated their transport units.
A total of 22 out of 23 senators backed the suspension proposal. Only Senator Risa Hontiveros did not sign the resolution.
READ: LTFRB: Marcos won’t suspend PUVMP
According to Escudero, the program suspension would only apply to those who have yet to comply with unit consolidation requirements, saying that “the government should first fix the program before they proceed with banning old transport models.”
“They should slow down a bit and review the loopholes needed to be fixed before they fully implement it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Magnificent 7 said they wanted to know the reason for forming the said Senate resolution.
“Nadadala ang ating mga kasamahan sa emosyon, sa sama ng loob. Ako po ay masama ang loob sa kanila, pero gayunpaman, makikipag-ugnayan pa rin po kami para malaman ang sinasabi ni Senator Chiz na butas at inapura,” said Martin.
(We are carried away by our emotions and resentment. I have a resentment towards them, but we will still coordinate to know what Senator Chiz meant about the loopholes and rush.)
“Sabi po ng ating Pangulo, ito po ay pitong beses nang inextend at pinag-aralan mabuti… bago ito’y mapatupad,” he added.
(The President said that this has been extended seven times and studied thoroughly before it got implemented.)
The deadline for operators and drivers to form transport cooperatives as part of the consolidation process of the program was last extended until April 30.
Based on the data of the Department of Transportation, 1,781 cooperatives with 262,870 members were accredited by the Office of Transport Cooperatives.
READ: LTFRB-7 lauds rejection of PUV modernization program suspension