Marcos still supports PUVMP despite Senate reso for suspension —LTFRB

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. still supports the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) despite the Senate resolution recommending its suspension, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Monday.

LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III made the statement during a program of protesting drivers and operators who already complied with the PUVMP at Mendiola in Manila, Super Radyo dzBB’s Manny Vargas reported.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang programa. Sinusuportahan ng Pangulo ang programa. At tuloy-tuloy ito hanggang sa matapos po 'yung final stages ng modernisasyon,” Guadiz told reporters.

(The program will continue. The President supports the program. And this will continue until the final stages of the modernization program.)

“Makakaasa po ang buong bayan, sa suporta ng Department of Transportation, ang Pangulo ay nasa kanila. Walang mangyayaring suspensyon. Tuloy-tuloy po ang programa,” he added.

(Through the DOTr, the entire country can count on the President. No suspension will happen. The program will continue.)

Recently, 22 of the 23 senators signed proposed Senate Resolution 1096 urging the government to temporarily suspend the implementation of the PUVMP or now the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

In the resolution, the lawmakers 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.

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 no longer considered 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 as “colorum” or a PUV operating without a franchise.

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

Around 81.11% or 155,513 of 191,730 PUV units have been consolidated as of May, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). A total of 36,217 PUVs remained unconsolidated.

For routes, 74.32% or 7,077 of 9,522 have been consolidated while 2,445 routes remained unconsolidated, the DOTr said.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News