22 senators want PUVMP suspended

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-two senators have signed a resolution calling for the suspension of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

In Senate Resolution 1096, the senators “express(ed) the sense of the Senate to … suspend the implementation of the Public Transport Modernization Program, formerly known as the PUV modernization program, pending the resolution of valid and urgent concerns raised by affected drivers, groups, unions and transport cooperatives with the end in view of ensuring a more efficient and inclusive implementation of the PTMP.”

The 22 senators who signed the resolution are Senate President Francis Escudero, Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Raffy Tulfo, Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Only Sen. Risa Hontiveros did not sign the resolution, which has enough votes to be approved in the plenary.

Hontiveros has yet to issue a statement explaining her decision.

In seeking the suspension of the program, the senators cited the thousands of drivers and operators who have yet to join as of April 30, the deadline of the program.

The senators said there are still 36,217 jeepneys and other public utility vehicles that have yet to be consolidated under the program, and that only 174 of the total 1,574 local government units have approved their local public transport route plan.

They cited the lack of information drive to educate drivers, as well as the hefty price tag of the new units as reasons for the “high figure of unconsolidated units.”

“Those who did not participate in the consolidation are now considered as colorum or operating illegally and run the risk of being fined and their vehicles impounded should the drivers continue to ply their routes,” the senators said.

“These small stakeholders, particularly drivers who remain unconsolidated, are effectively forced out of their livelihoods, with most of them expressing that the only skill they have is driving,” they added.

The PUVMP also seeks to “phase out” the “iconic jeepney design” and replace these with “so-called modern jeepneys that are merely mini-buses imported from other countries.”

“While the PTMP is integral to the traffic management solution, there is an urgent need to thoroughly review and reassess the impact of the program, to alleviate the fears of the drivers and transport operators who will be directly burdened by its implementation,” the senators said.

“While the intent of the PTMP is laudable, continuing with the program without threshing out these concerns would go against the constitutional directive of promoting social justice in all phases of national development,” they added.

Escudero has expressed confidence that President Marcos will listen to the Senate’s sentiment in the same way that he heeded the call to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators.

Transport groups have lauded the Senate resolution.

Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) lauded the resolution, which it claimed as a win following an eight-year fight against the modernization program.

“We are glad because we know that the decision of the senators is the result of our determination and joint action,” PISTON president Mody Floranda said.

Floranda added that the suspension would greatly benefit the drivers and operators whose livelihoods suffered from the modernization.

Thousands of drivers and operators effectively lost their franchises and authority to operate following the consolidation deadline last April.

Data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board earlier showed that about 10,000 have not consolidated nationwide, including 1,900 jeepneys in Metro Manila.

“It is necessary to push the administration to end the PUVMP because many are suffering and will lose their livelihood,” Floranda said.

Transport group Manibela also welcomed the resolution that called for the suspension of the PUVMP.

They thanked the 22 senators who signed Senate Resolution 1096 as they said they hope that Marcos will listen to the resolution.

The transport group is set to hold a nationwide caravan to compel Marcos to suspend the PUVMP. – Romina Cabrera