A transport leader’s admission during a Senate hearing on Monday that they used “surplus” jeepneys caught Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade by surprise.
At the hearing of the Senate committee on public services, Efren de Luna, chairman and national president of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (Acto) expressed concern over the government’s plan to subject all jeepneys under the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS).
“Sang-ayon po kami na ang aming paninindigan na pag pwede at maganda pa naman, manatili muna dun…,” Luna said.
“Ang nakakatakot pa ho dito , pag in-examine kami sa MVIS, ang pinagbabatayan nila dun sa examine, yung mga bagong makina. Mga surplus po kami. Baka hindi kami maangkop na lahat kami sa pagdating ng January walang pumasa doon sa MVIs. Hindi na kami makapag parehistro, phase out na po yun,” he added.
Tugade said he was “shock” by Luna’s remark on the use of surplus vehicles.
“Nagulat ho ako ng sinasabing lahat kayo gumagamit ng surplus. Titingnan ko lang ho kasi meron yatang bawal gamitin yang surplus, o may moratorium sa surplus,” he said.
Tugade cited Executive Order No. 156, issued during the time of then President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which bans surplus cars.
Senator Grace Poe, chair of the committee, called the hearing to listen to the sentiments on all parties involved in the government’s planned jeepney modernization program.