Senate resolution urging PUVMP postponement proposed

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero proposed on Tuesday that a resolution calling for the postponement of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program's (PUVMP's) implementation be drafted and passed by the Senate.

"Buo ang paniniwala ko na mayorya ng mga senador ay sumusuporta sa pagsuspinde ng modernization program na ito," said Escudero.

"Kaya imbes na panukalang batas o dagdag dito, makakapagpasa tayo agad ng resolusyon expressing the sense of the Senate na hinihiling at pinapanawagan sa Pangulo na ito ay pansamantala munang suspendihin hangga't hindi nasasagot ang lahat ng katanungan, lahat ng problema, at lahat ng kwestyong pinansyal kaugnay ng modernisasyong ito."

He also noted that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. could heed the call to suspend the PUVMP, the same way he agreed to the recommendations that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) should be banned.

"Buo ang pag-asa ko, dahil na rin sa mga naging posisyon ng Pangulo sa kaniyang SONA, partikular kaugnay ng POGO. May isang bagay na pinakita si Pangulong Marcos kahapon - siya ay nakikinig at siya ay sensitibo sa pulso at opinyon ng ating mga kababayan," Escudero said.

"Bilang inyong mga kinatawan sa Senado... ipaparinig natin at ihahatid natin sa kaniya 'yung pulso at pananaw at posisyon ng mas nakararami nating kababayan na ipagpaliban muna ito, at sana dinggin niya tulad ng naging posisyon din ng Senado sa POGO, 'yung ating posisyon kaugnay nito na hindi na kailangan hintayin pa yung susunod na SONA," he added.

Escudero informed Senator Raffy Tulfo, who leads the Senate hearing on the PUVMP, that he would help Tulfo gather the signatures of their fellow senators to pass a resolution seeking the PUVMP suspension.

"Kung ihahain ang resolusyon, kahit po sa darating na linggo, 'yan ay resolusyon lamang po. Kapagka makakuha tayo ng mayorya ng pirma, tutulungan ko kayo makakuha ng mayoryang pirma, agad naming maipapasa ang panawagang ito ngayon o sa darating na linggo," Escudero said.

Tulfo, in response, said he would file such a resolution considering the support of his fellow senators, including the Senate President.

Before proposing the resolution, Escudero said that he had long opposed the PUVMP.

"Hindi na nating kailangan magdebate. Hindi ito pinag isipan, hindi ito pinaghandaan at hindi tinanong man lang yung sektor mismo ng PUV bago ito pinatupad sa nakaraang administrasyon. Sa madaling salita, binraso lamang po ito eh," the Senate President said.

Escudero recalled that when he was still governor of Sorsogon, he delayed the implementation of PUVMP in the province.

When a Department of Transportation official talked to him about this, Escudero said he cited the position of then-Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte - the daughter of then-President Rodrigo Duterte, who approved the PUVMP - not to implement the same program in her locality.

"Sabi ko, kumbinsihin niyo muna 'yung anak bago sa akin. Kasi kahit si then-Mayor and now Vice President Sara ay tutol po dito nung siya ay mayor, parang pagtutol ko nung gobernador ako," he recalled.

Escudero also criticized the modern jeepney's price of P2.5 million and that these would mostly come from China or Russia.

"Bakit 'di tinutukang pansin 'yung gawang Pilipino mismo? Nakalikha pa ng trabaho at hindi pa nabura 'yung kultura at tradisyon at kasaysayan na nasa likod ng PUV," he said.

"'Yung mga kwadradong parang minibus na binebenta ng DOTr sa nagdaang administrsyon hanggang ngayon, sa totoo lang, walang kaamor-amor sa akin. At sa totoo lang din ginamit ng kooperatiba...'Yung isang kooperatiba namin sa Sorsogon, sumugal sa mahigit kumulang 40 ata o 50 minibus na binili mga walo na lang ang tumatakbo ngayon," he added.

He further argued that it would be difficult for jeepney drivers to pay for a modern jeepney.

"Hangga’t hindi po sapat ang financing kahit anong puwersa niyo na magkooperatiba yan para lamang makabili ng mga sinusubo niyong galing China at Russia, hindi po talaga uubra," he added.

The PUVMP, which started in 2017, aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles with at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace PUVs that were not roadworthy by the standards of the Land Transportation Office.

The program required jeepney drivers and operators to join or form cooperatives. They could also apply for new franchises but as part of transport cooperatives.

Transport groups filed a petition against the PUVMP before the Supreme Court. — DVM, GMA Integrated News