Manibela chair seeks Senate seat to advocate for PUV drivers' welfare

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena on Monday, October 7, submitted his certificate of candidacy (COC) to seek a seat in the Senate.

In his speech following the formalization of his Senate bid, Valbuena said that he aims to advocate for the welfare of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who lost their livelihoods due to the jeepney modernization program.

“Simula nung ipatupad ang PUVMP or ang pag-phase out sa aming mga jeepney, marami po ang naghirap…marami pong naabuso sa aming sektor na pati ang ating mahal na mananakay, ay nagdurusa sa hindi tamang implementasyon at pagpapatupad ng PUVMP,” he said in his speech. 

(Since the implementation of the PUVMP, or the phaseout of our jeepneys, many have struggled... many in our sector have been abused, and even our beloved passengers are suffering due to the improper implementation and enforcement of the PUVMP.)

Valbuena will run as an independent candidate.

On the other hand, the chairperson of another transport group opposing the modernization program, Mody Floranda of Piston, is also seeking a Senate seat. He will run with the Makabayan bloc slate.

Valbuena and Floranda have been lobbying for the abolition of the jeepney modernization program. 

They have been filing petitions before the Supreme Court since December 2023 in hopes of halting the implementation of the program.

On March 6, 2024, the Supreme Court rejected a petition challenging the modernization program, separate from the one filed by Piston, due to a lack of "legal standing." 

Previously, the Senate called for the program's suspension, emphasizing the large number of jeepneys that had not yet been consolidated. 

The Senate also raised concerns about the financial burden on jeepney operators, noting that the high cost of modern units was beyond the reach of many drivers and operators. 

Despite this, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that he disagreed with the Senate's recommendation, stating that the program was long overdue.

Legal hurdle of Valbuena

Meanwhile, Valbuena also made headlines in October last year whenTransportation Secretary Jaime Bautista filed a libel case against him for claiming there was alleged corruption within the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

In April 2024, the Department of Justice indicted Valbuen, saying that his remarks about Bautista constituted libel because they implied a malicious accusation of a criminal act.