Marcos wants to ensure no one loses job in PUV modernization, thanks groups for ending strike

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. wants to ensure that no driver of public utility vehicles will lose their job amid the PUV modernization program.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Marcos was asked about the meeting of Palace officials with transport groups that resulted in the termination of the transport strike.

"Ang problema na kanilang sinasabi ay baka hindi sila mapautang para makapagbili ng bagong sasakyan kaya't yan ang tinitignan namin ngayon na tiyakin na walang mawawalan ng trabaho dahil hindi nakapagbili ng electric vehicle pagdating ng panahon," Marcos said.

(The problem they were saying was they might not secure a loan to buy a new vehicle so we are looking at ensuring that no one will lose their job if ever they fail to buy an electric vehicle.)

"Wala pa tayo doon pero sa ngayon ang ginagawa lang natin tiyakin lang natin na safe ang ating mga sasakyan... na hindi malagay sa alanganin ang mga pasahero, ang mga commuter," he added.

(We are not there yet but we are ensuring that the vehicles are safe for the passengers, commuters.)

The decision to terminate the protest action came after the meeting of PISTON president Mody Floranda and Manibela leader Mar Valbuena with Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil, former chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, on Tuesday.

Garafil's office confirmed the meeting where the leaders of the transport groups voiced their grievances on the implementation of the modernization program.

In a video posted by the PCO, Valbuena and Floranda expressed support for the program in which they reiterated their appeal for the modernization program to continue "in ways where no one gets left behind, just, humane, and reasonable."

The President, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for the transport groups for their decision to end the strike.

"I'm glad that... ako'y nagpapasalamat naman sa kanila na sa palagay ko ay naramdaman nila, they have made their point very clearly na kailangan natin tingnan at pag-aralan nang mabuti," Marcos said.

(I thank them because they have made their point very clearly that we have to look and study this thoroughly.)

Also on Wednesday, the Department of Transportation said the government will review the 2017 Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, which serves as the framework for the PUVMP.

"Rereviewhin ang Omnibus Franchising Guidelines. Kaya nga sabi ko importante ang dialogue kasi nga mapaguusapan natin ‘yan,"  Bautista said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum.

(The Omnibus Franchising Guidelines will be reviewed. That’s why I said that dialogue is important because we can discuss this.)

"Lumabas ito noong 2017 pa (This was released in 2017). Now it’s 2023, so there’s really a need to review it," the Transportation chief said.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), meanwhile, welcomed the decision of transport groups to end their planned week-long transport strike, two days after it commenced.

In a statement, LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III expressed openness to sit down with transport groups to discuss issues on the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

“Sa amin pong mga kaibigan sa Manibela at PISTON, pati na din po sa iba pang transport groups sa ating bansa, hindi po magbabago ang aming panawagan. Mananatili pong bukas ang aking tanggapan sa LTFRB, sa tulong na rin ng DOTr (Department of Transportation), kung saan maaari tayong mag-usap nang masinsinan kung paano pa mas mapabubuti ang PUVMP at kung paano makasusunod ang ating mga drayber at operator sa programa,” he said.

(To our friends in Manibela and PISTON, and to all other transport groups in the country, our call will not change. The LTFRB’s office remains open, with the help of DOTr, where we can have a deep dialogue to improve PUVMP and discuss how our drivers and operators can comply with the program.)

Manibela and PISTON hailed the transport strike as successful after the government agreed to revisit aspects of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.

PISTON national president Modesto “Mody” Floranda said the government has agreed to revise the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, in cooperation with the transport sector.

“‘Yun pong mga tinalakay sa kanilang issue na kinakaharap ay kagyat na tinugunan ng Office of the (Executive) Secretary at ang isa rito ay ‘yung muling pagrerebisa dun sa Omnibus Franchising Guidelines nung 2017,” said Floranda in a press conference.

(The issues were urgently responded to by the Office of the Executive Secretary, and one of these is the revision of the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines of 2017.)

Under the modernization scheme, jeepney operators are enjoined to join cooperatives or corporations which will borrow money from banks to buy modern jeepneys or mini-buses.

The LTFRB earlier announced that traditional jeepneys and UV express units only had until June 30 to join cooperatives or corporations to modernize. The deadline has since been extended to December 31.

Marcos said the deadline set by the LTRFB is enough to do all the works needed for the modernization program.—AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News