Sen. Ralph Recto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to either suspend or study further its planned jeepney modernization program.
“Yan ba makakaresolba ng traffic yan, yang babaguhin natin lahat ng jeep (Would that really resolve the traffic problem, that program to modernize the jeepney)?” Recto asked DOTr officials during Monday’s plenary deliberations on the agency’s proposed budget next year.
“Saka na yan. Ayusin muna natin ang Edsa, ayusin muna traffic, ayusin nyo yung MRT. Bakit ang iniisip natin palitan lahat ang jeep kaagad (Let’s save that for later. Let’s fix the traffic mess, fix the MRT. Why would you insist on replacing all the jeepney)?”
“Suspend muna natin yan. Pag isipan muna nating mabuti yan Mr. President (Let’s suspend that first. Let’s us carefully study it first Mr. President),” he added.
But the DOTr officials, through Senator JV Ejercito, insisted the need to start with the modernization program.
Recto said he would not object to the proposal if the DOTr would conduct a pilot test first in Metro Manila.
“I don’t mind starting in Metro Manila but if you say nationwide, that’s where the problem is,” said the Senate leader.
“Yes, we agree with you that it has to start in Metro Manila first,” Ejercito, who was defending the DOTr’s budget, answered.
“Pilot will be in Metro Manila then we’ll see if it’s successful. That’s the only time we can say we can move on and make it a nationwide project,” he added. /jpv
RELATED STORY
Eco-friendly vehicle to replace jeepneys