UNIFIED Transport Cooperatives and Corporations here publicly oppose the Senate resolution to suspend the Public Transportation Modernization Program (PTMP).
In a press conference at NCCC Victoria Plaza on Monday, Aug. 5, Ralph Palma Gil, Mandaya Van Transport Service Cooperative chairman, said that instead of suspending the program, the Senate should help look for a solution to address the matter.
“Dili ingon nga i-suspend kundi mangita sila og solusyon unsaon sa gobyerno nga mas daghan pa ang maka-modernize,” Gil said.
He added the government can also consider raising the subsidy, as the financial burden hinders some operators from consolidating.
At present, the equity subsidy offered by the government to the drivers is P280,000 from P160,000.
“Dapat siguro ang ilang himoon, maghatag pag dugang subsidiya, para dili malisdan ang mga kooperatiba nga magpalit og modernized unit, mas patas-an pa nila ang gihatag nga subsidiya,” Gil said.
Meanwhile, he added that the Senate can also urge local government units to fast-track the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP).
LPTRP is a plan detailing the route network, mode, and required number of units per mode for delivering land transport service, which shall be the minimum requirement prescribed for the issuance of PUV franchises.
Gil added while the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chair Teofilo Guadiz III assured all drivers and operators that PTMP will continue despite the Senate resolution, the group will only be complacent if the Senate retracts the resolution filed.
Guadiz assured stakeholders who participated in the (PTMP) that it would proceed as long as there was no directive coming from the President and the Department of Transportation to halt the program.
At present, the consolidation rate of the region is at 92.17% or about 2001 out of 2171 units, and a total of 76 fully operating modernized units in the region.
Jeanita Bangay, Kapatagan Transport Cooperative officer, said the suspension will affect not only the operators but also the drivers and conductors for the operating units.
“Masayang lang ang among kahago, tungod gipamaligya na ang mga van, dako ni’g epekto kay nahinayak nami ani, dili gyud sya lalim,” Bangay said.
Bangay said there are 11 operational units under their cooperative.
She also questioned if the program would be suspended, should their payment to the bank be also halted as they have undergone monthly payments to the bank for their loan to procure the units.
The transport service entities emphasized in their manifesto they have “long been waiting” for the implementation and have complied with the consolidation process.
The group added they already made large financial investments to acquire the modernized units.
“The suspension of the PTMP runs the risk of undermining our efforts and investments, even those made by the LGUs, as well as the experience of the riding public,” their manifesto added.
A total of 29 cooperatives signed the Manifesto which was already submitted to LTFRB central office through the regional office.
Transport cooperatives include Kapatagan, ABBES People’s, Mandaya Van, Gemini Van, Davao Avante, Tagdasab, Metro Kidapawan, and Maragusan Van Operators Drivers Transport Coop, among others.
PTMP formerly called the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) started in 2017, is a comprehensive plan of the national government, aiming to replace traditional jeepneys with safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly vehicles.
The first phase of the program required jeepney drivers and operators to join or form cooperatives.
On Wednesday, 22 out of 23 senators signed Senate Resolution No. 1096, temporarily suspending the implementation of PTMP. Of the 23 senators, only Senator Risa Hontiveros did not sign.
“While the PTMP is integral to the traffic management solution, there is an urgent need to thoroughly review and reassess the impact of the program, to alleviate the fears of the drivers and transport operators who will be directly burdened by its implementation,” the resolution reads.
The resolution also highlighted the Senate echoing concerns raised by various transport groups due to the PTMP deficiencies yet to be addressed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
It noted that as of April 30, the latest deadline set by the DOTr for the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUVs), 36,217 units, or approximately 19% of the jeepneys and other PUVs have not yet been consolidated.
It emphasized that this was due to insufficient information on the part of the government to educate the drivers, operators, and transport groups about the PTMP, and the burden of financing the cost of modern PUVs, which is beyond the financial capacity of drivers and operators.
Moreover, the resolution stressed drivers “run the risk of being fined, and vehicles impounded” as those who did not consolidate are tagged colorum.
“These small stakeholders, particularly the drivers, who remain unconsolidated, are effectively forced out of their livelihoods with most of them expressing that the only skill they have is driving,” the resolution added.
This also includes phasing out the “iconic jeepney design in favor of the so-called modern jeepneys which are merely mini-buses imported from other countries.”
The Senate then called the DOTr to clarify and address the concerns of affected stakeholders.
Photo: Bing Gonzales
