LTFRB to offer free rides amid pro-PUVMP strike

Free rides will be offered to commuters on Monday amid the strike of drivers and operators who complied with the government's modernization program, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Friday.

In a statement, the LTFRB said it is coordinating with concerned local government units to provide free rides and mitigate the impact of the strike on commuters.

"We respect the right of drivers and operators to free expression as enshrined in the Constitution, and we acknowledge the concerns of the transport sector,” LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said.

“We remain committed to ensuring the commuting public’s access to transportation," he added.

Some transport groups supporting the Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program (PUVMP) are gearing up for a strike to express dismay over a Senate resolution recommending the suspension of the program,

Around 83% of their public vehicles all over the country are modernized, according to Angat Kooperatiba at Korporasyon ng Alyansang Pilipino Para sa Modernisasyon.

"Galit na galit yung sektor dahil sa ginawang ito ng Senado.Kami’y sumunod na. Nakapag-modernize na bakit ang senado ay bigla na lang ganyan ang gagawin para sa sektor? Parang hindi nila iniisip yung sakripisyo nitong maliliit,” Ed Comia, convenor of the Angat Kooperatiba at Korporasyon ng Alyansang Pilipino Para sa Modernisasyon.

(The sector is furious with the senators’ move. We already followed in modernizing our PUVs. Why did the Senate do that? It seems like they did not think of the sacrifice we made.)

The transport groups led by the “Magnificent 7” earlier said they would go on a strike should the Senate proceed with the filing the resolution.

The Magnificent 7 is composed of Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Stop and Go Transport Coalition, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, and National Federation of UV Express Inc.

Senate resolution

On Wednesday, 22 of the 23 senators signed proposed Senate Resolution 1096 urging the government to temporarily suspend the implementation of the PUVMP or now the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

In the resolution, the lawmakers cited concerns on the high number of unconsolidated PUV units, phaseout of the iconic jeepney design "in favor of so-called modern jeepneys," low percentage of approved routes, among others.

Started in 2017, the PUVMP aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution. It also aims to replace units that are no longer considered roadworthy.

A modern jeepney unit costs over P2 million, an amount that even state-run banks LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines said was too expensive for PUV drivers and operators.

The consolidation of individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations is the initial stage of the modernization program.

Initially, the LTFRB had said that PUVs that did not consolidate after the April 30 deadline would be deemed as “colorum” or a PUV operating without a franchise.

However, the LTFRB has allowed unconsolidated jeepneys and UV Express to operate in over 2,500 routes with a low number of consolidations.

A total of 36,217 PUVs and 2,445 routes remained unconsolidated as of May 2024. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News