Straight from the “horse’s” mouth

Being in the media makes many people think that you may know a lot more than they do. Especially during these days of “fake news” (now a buzz word) and alternative facts, which sadly come from media wannabes and from some but not all “influencers” (another buzz word), it’s inevitable to see those known to be in the mainstream media to be looked up to as the credible source of information.

Aware of this, the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ), a group of editors, columnists to include broadcast / print / online media practitioners dedicated to the motoring and auto industry beat agreed to come up with the SPMJ Forum. It’s a free-flowing exercise where people from government, business, private sector, the academe and other social sectors that are in the news or in the middle of significant issues or controversies vital to the public would be invited to make statements or presentations relevant to the particular topic on center stage and answer questions from a panel exclusively composed of their members.

The objective is to provide a venue for discussion or clarification between the invited resource speakers and the members of this exclusive journalists’ group. This would allow SPMJ members to have a formal platform where “statements of facts” can be quoted for dissemination to the public thru the media outlets they individually represent. Being broadcast “live” over Facebook and eventually on TV and online, the possibility of having “fake news” would be limited to what the speakers may deliberately or inadvertently say, with the journalists acting their expected role of just transmitting to the public what have been actually said — nothing less, nothing more.

SPMJ Members with the guest speakers, Joseph Bautista, TMA Officer-In-Charge; Atty. Martin Delgra III, LTFRB Chairman; and Art Balmadrid, TMA Board Member

The first staging of the SPMJ Forum was held last Wednesday, April 18 with the spotlight on the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), a current high-profile issue that involves the decried possible displacement of thousands of drivers and operators of public utility jeepneys, a projected big boost to the government’s efforts to lessen air pollution, the possible further development of the country’s automotive industry and for some a quantum leap from our historically and culturally ingrained mode of public transport — the jeepney.

The invited resource speakers included Atty. Martin Delgra III, assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation and chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the agency mandated to govern and regulate public land transport in the country and the lead government agency mandated to implement leveling up of the country’s transport sector.  

Representing the business sector that would be tapped to provide the replacement of the projected phased-out public utility vehicles that would outdate their legal presence on the road were Mr. Joseph Bautista, the current officer in charge of the Truck Association of the Philippines (TAP) and also the vice president for business development of Isuzu Philippines and Mr. Art Balmadrid, TAP board member and vice president for marketing of Tata Philippines.

LTFRB chairman Delgra started his shortened but still very thorough presentation by clearing the air regarding the PUVMP’s objective, which is not to just zero in only on the jeepneys because the program is not a ‘Public Utility Jeepney Modernization Program’ but the modernization of all public utility vehicles in the country — no discrimination. 

The main objectives of the program as presented include;

a) Modernizing the current PUV fleet b) Reform and consolidate the industry c) Move toward low emission PUVs d) Improve welfare of commuters and encourage modal shift e) Improve standard of living of drivers, operators and their families.

One of the questions that I have been asked through this column by operators and drivers of jeepneys upon the advent of this government-mandated program was whether this modernization move would mean a total ban on jeepneys. And this issue was one of the highlights of the discussion.

It was presented that jeepneys and buses, by law can only operate up to 15 years while taxis and UVs up to 13 years. That being so, the phase out is real, but only for those whose existence is beyond that’s prescribed by law. But there is no ban on jeepneys as long as they operate within the bounds of legal operation.  

Another very important objective of the program highlighted by the good chairman during his presentation was the aim to improve the standard of living of divers and operators and their families. This could easily be achieved by the abolition of the decades-old malpractice known as the “boundary system.” With all the reforms in the system instituted plus the actual leveling up of the standards of vehicles the days of the “boundary system” would come to an eventual end with drivers finally enjoying the dignity of labor they so are equally entitled to. It is envisioned that drivers would finally be enjoying regular salaries and security of tenure, like any of the country’s labor force enjoy.   

With the achievement of first objective of the program, which is to reform and consolidate the industry, colorums or illegal vehicles shall be given its death penalty. Their absence would give the legitimate PUV operators a greater chance to have a more profitable operation, which would redound to better earnings to the drivers. 

It was a very enlightening presentation for the SPMJ members. It was so complete that it almost did not merit and clarification or further questions, except for some.

The gentlemen from the truck industry, Mr. Bautista and Mr. Balmadrid also did their share of giving the motoring journalists an idea of their participation in the country’s efforts to modernize its transport industry by presenting what they would individually offer.

Everything went well for the maiden staging of the SPMJ Forum especially with the elegant yet business like amenities offered by our gracious host, the recently Department of Tourism-accredited 5-star hotel in Quezon City, the new 438-room Seda Vertis North, a brand of Ayala Land characterized by world-class facilities and exceptional levels of customer service.  

The SPMJ Forum has been planned to be a quarterly affair. But judging by its initial success — the next one may be sooner than expected.

Happy Motoring!!!

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