DOTr to pursue with PUVMP amid Senate suspension reso

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday said it will pursue with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) even after senators formally called for a temporary suspension of its implementation.

DOTr Undersecretary Andy Ortega said that while the DOTr respects the move of the Senate, the agency intends to pursue the program and work on the issues raised by stakeholders.

“We always respect our colleagues or friends sa Senado po. So yung resolution na inahain nila ay I do believe pupunta po yan sa Malacañang, sa ating Pangulo, and our President will make the decision regarding that resolution,” he told Unang Balita in an interview.

(We always respect our colleagues or friends in the Senate. So the resolution they submitted is, I do believe, will go to Malacañang, to our President, and our President will make the decision regarding that resolution.)

“On the part of the DOTr, we are pursuing the program because we know kaya po nating ayusin ang lahat ng problema sa usapin sa konsultasyon, while we are pushing for, ongoing po yung programa natin,” he added.

(On the part of the DOTr, we are pursuing the program because we know we can fix all the issues on the matter in consultation, while we are pushing for our ongoing program,.)

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

The senators 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, in the resolution.

In a letter to the Senate prior to the signing of the resolution, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista warned of "unintended consequences" should the government suspend the implementation of PUVMP.

"While we acknowledge that PTMP has faced challenges, allow us to respectfully posit that its overall impact has been overwhelmingly positive. Despite some isolated issues that have arisen, DOTr, along with its attached agencies, are actively addressing them through ongoing review and stakeholder consultations. We remain committed to refining the Program to better meet the needs of our stakeholders," Bautista told Escudero.

"In conclusion, we respectfully beseech the Honorable Senate to consider the ongoing benefits and improvements of PTMP. A temporary suspension might only halt the positive momentum of the Program, but could also have unintended consequences," he added.

Bautista's letter was dated July 29 or six days after Escudero proposed the filing of a resolution that calls for PUVMP rollout's temporary suspension.

Ortega, meanwhile, advised consolidated PUV operators and drivers to continue their operation despite the Senate resolution. 

“Ang sasabihin namin tuloy lang because that's the order of the President, that's the order of the Secretary. We have to pursue this program dahil alam po natin we can talk, we can fix and we can improve what we have been doing for the past year,” he said.

(We will tell them to carry on because that's the order of the President, that's the order of the Secretary. We have to pursue this program because we know we can talk, fix, and improve what we have been doing for the past year.)

“Kaya po nating ituloy ang programa ngunit nag-uusap po tayo na maayos to improve further. Tulungan po tayo dito. Kailangan po nating ituloy ang programa,” he added.

(We can continue the program but we have to make discussions about how to improve further. Let’s help each other here. We need to continue the program.)

In a separate statement, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said there is no directive from Marcos or the DOTr to stop the program.

“We assure the drivers, operators, and stakeholders who participated in the PUVMP that it will proceed as long as there is no directive coming from the President and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to halt the program,” LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said.

While respecting the Senate’s move, Guadiz said “the PUVMP is the government’s response to address the aggravating transport-related problems and the Board remains committed to providing a safe, efficient service to the riding public and a better transport sector.”

PUVMP

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 not deemed 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 “colorum.”

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

In a statement on Thursday, the LTFRB clarified that the low number of authorized units (NAU) on some routes led to their decision to allow unconsolidated jeepneys and UV express vehicles to operate.

“Low NAU routes” refer to routes that only have 1-4 authorized units.

It added that the minimum requirement of units on a particular route has prevented jeepney and UV Express operators from consolidating.

“[T]o ensure the supply of public transportation on low NAU routes, the Board hereby resolves to allow individual operators of PUJ and UVE on low NAU routes to operate on their existing routes without the need for filing an Application for Consolidation but subject to the eventual approval of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPIRP) or the Route Rationalization Plan,” the LTFRB said in a resolution.

Only unconsolidated jeepney and UV units registered with the Land Transportation Office and having a valid Personal Passenger Accident Insurance Coverage were allowed to operate on low NAU routes.

The LTFRB has allowed applications for consolidation of cooperatives with less than 15 units if the existing NAU in a route was less than 15.

Applications for consolidation of cooperatives with only 10 to 14 units have also been allowed, provided that the applicant executes an Affidavit of Undertaking assuring that all 15 units will be completed within three months of filing. 

A total of 36,217 PUVs and 2,445 routes remained unconsolidated as of May. —with Jiselle Anne Casucian/KBK/RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News