Senators hit prioritization of China vehicles in PUV modernization

Two senators on Friday slammed the supposed preference of vehicles from abroad, particularly from China, as replacements to the traditional jeepneys under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization  Program (PUVMP).

In her opening statement at the Senate Public Services Committee hearing on the PUVMP, Senator Grace Poe, former chairperson of the panel, reiterated her call for the government to make these modernization efforts affordable to jeepney operators and drivers.

"Let's lessen our reliance on expensive imported units. Bakit ba kailangan manggaling sa ibang bansa o sa Tsina. Kaya naman natin dito gumawa niyan, mas mura pa," Poe, who previously led the hearings on the PUVMP, said.

"Gusto nating lahat dito ang modernisasyon pero hindi ‘yung libo-libo muna ang mawawalan ng kabuhayan o masasakyan. Para saan pa ang mabilis na  pagtakbo ng dyip kung naiwanan naman ang mga kailangang maisakay?"

This was backed by Senator Raffy Tulfo, who is the new chairperson of the Senate Public Services Committee, adding that preference for locally manufactured jeepneys in the implementation of the program would help generate jobs and the economy.

"Siguro  next time, DOTR, imbes na kumonsulta kayo sa mga foreign manufactuers,  unahin niyo munang konsultahin 'yung mga local manufacturers natin kasi  they have more experience than the foreign manufacturers pagdating sa  pagpapatakbo ng mga jeepney sa mga kalsada natin," Tulfo said.

"Stop consulting with these people, especially from China. ['Yung] local  manufacturers natin, capable sila...sana binibigyan natin sila ng  respeto. I don't want to hear from now on na kapag meron tayong mga  programa tungkol sa mass transportation ang una nating kinokonsulta yung mga taga abroad...pag sinabi ng mga local manufacturers natin na hindi  namin kaya yan, tsaka natin ipapasa o ikokonsulta sa labas ng bansa," he went on.

Responding to this, Department of Transportation  Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand "Andy" Ortega explained to the panel that the foreign manufacturers were the ones who approached the agency about the program.

Tulfo cut him short and told the DOTr official not to entertain these foreign manufacturers and to prioritize consultations with the local producers.

"Kaya siguro niyo  in-entertain niyo 'yung foreign, kasi yung foreign may dolyar na  pang-under the table siguro," Tulfo alleged, but clarified that he was not refering to Ortega.

Tulfo then cited the case of Dalian trains for the expansion of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3), which he recently inspected.

"Alam na nga niya 'yung Dalian train na hindi angkop, compatible, compliant  sa ating MRT system, pinilit pa talagang papasukin. 'Yung pagdating ng  delivery alam na hindi magagamit, tinanggap pa rin. Kung hindi ba naman  kengkoy, 'di ba?" Tulfo said, referring to the previous leaderships of  the DOTr.

"Now, meron tayong P3.7 billion na tren d'yan ngayon nakatengga sa MRT station na hindi nagagamit kasi puro foreign 'yung  gusto niyo e. Ayan, Dalian [from] China. Ngayon dito sa jeepney  modernization, China na naman," he quipped.

The senators went  on and said, "Ba't gustong-gusto niyo sa China ano? Anong meron? Ang  balita ko kasi 'yung China mabilis daw magsuhol, malaki ata manuhol kaso ang local walang panuhol kaya hindi na-entertain ang local."

Elmer Francisco from the jeepney manufacturer Francisco Motor Corporation said that they were capable in terms of production but they were not consulted when the Philippine National Standards (PNS) for modern jeepneys were being crafted.

According to Francisco,  instead of consulting Francisco Motor Corporation and Sarao Motors,  which was also known for producing traditional jeepneys, the Department of Trade and Industry consulted foreign manufacturers of buses.

"Ang maiiwan sa atin yung pagtataka na baka may connivance dito," he said.

"Bakit ayaw nila ibigay sa local manufacturers kung ibibigay naman nila sa  foreign manufacturer para dito sa programa ng gobyerno na gumawa tayo ng sarili nating jeepney, 'yung tunay na jeepney, dito, local. Kung  binigay nila yon sa atin 2018, 2019 pa lang nakagawa na tayo ng murang  electric jeepney dito sa Pilipinas," Francisco said.

For his part, Edgardo Sarao narrated how they released a prototype of full-electric jeepneys around 2018 and 2019, but the problem was these were costly.

They also had problems with the Euro 4 engines as there was no local source for these.

According to Sarao,  they waited in case the DOTr could offer help in sourcing the engine for modern jeepneys, but to no avail.

Started in 2017,  the PUVMP aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a  Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution.

The consolidation of PUVs is part of the initial stage of the government's PUVMP under which jeepney operators and drivers were compelled to consolidate into cooperatives or have their permits revoked.

The deadline for consolidation was set last April 30, prompting jeepney operators and drivers to hold protests.

Manibela earlier called on the government to come up with a jeepney prototype with local manufacturers that would meet the government's standard. — DVM, GMA Integrated News