Imee Marcos seeks Senate inquiry into PUV Modernization Program

Senator Imee Marcos on Monday filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

In filing proposed Senate Resolution 893, Marcos stressed the need for an accurate and thorough assessment of the program, saying the “country cannot afford a transport crisis, especially that the economy is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic.“

She cited the criticisms and concerns of various transport groups such as PISTON and Manibela on the PUV modernization program.

“For traditional jeepney drivers and operators, the deadline is too close for comfort to comply with the consolidation requirements such as the necessary documents, membership fees in cooperatives, funds to secure stocks in corporations, and other prerequisites. Moreover, membership fees in cooperatives or stocks in corporations are a heavy burden to some drivers and operators of PUVs,” Marcos said.

“The alarming number of PUVs that fail to consolidate is one of the factors that require attention as it will also have an adverse impact on commuters and the country’s public transportation,” she added.

Further, Marcos underscored that the government and the PUV stakeholders should continue dialogues to find a win-win solution.

Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III called for an indefinite suspension of the PUV modernization program implementation.

The application for the consolidation of jeepney operators into cooperatives, which is part of the government's PUV modernization program, ended on Sunday, December 31, 2023.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier declared that there would be no extension of the December 31, 2023 deadline.

Those who failed to apply for consolidation would no longer be allowed to operate starting Monday, January 1, 2024, especially in routes where 60% of PUVs had applications.

But those who operate in routes with less than 60% consolidation or with zero consolidation would still be allowed to ply their routes until January 31.

Started in 2017, the PUV modernization program aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace PUVs that were not deemed roadworthy under the standards of the Land Transportation Office.

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.

On December 28, the Supreme Court (SC) asked the DOTr and the LTFRB to comment on a pending petition seeking to stop the implementation of the PUV modernization program.

The petition was filed by several groups including PISTON, Para-Advocates For Inclusive Transport, No to PUV Phaseout Coalition, and Bayan Muna party-list.—GMA Integrated News