MANILA, January 25 ------ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has extended the deadline for consolidation of public utility vehicles as part of the PUV modernization program. According to the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos, upon the recommendation of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, "granted an additional three months until April 30 for the consolidation of public utility vehicles. This extension is to give an opportunity to those who expressed intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off," the PCO said.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it will adhere to Marcos' directive. "Operators and drivers are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity provided by the President," LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said in a statement. He also plans to call for a board meeting on Thursday to discuss the recalibration of the PUV modernization program. Guadiz likewise said the LTFRB is open to hold a dialogue with transport groups to help address their concerns with the program. “It’s a little relief in a sense na hindi muna kami manghuhuli,” he said. “Ang LTFRB ay tatalima sa utos ng Pangulo at higit naming pagbubutihan ang aming trabaho para ma-address pa namin ang mga problema sa modernization. Bukas din tatawag ako ng meeting ng board, ire-recalibrate namin ang aming mga gagawin para lalu naming mapagbigyan ang nasa transport group,” Guadiz added.
“’Yung mga hindi nakapag-consolidate, tatanggapin namin… ‘yung mga gusto pa ulit mag-consolidate sa ibang ruta, pwede naming pagbigyan. It will widen the program. ‘Yung route rationalization pagtutuunan namin ng pansin… Iaayos namin ang route rationalization para maging mas smooth-sailing ang ating modernization program,” the LTFRB chief noted. House Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed the President's decision to extend to April 30 the deadline for the industry consolidation under the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
This came after several protests from transport groups and after the House Committee on Transportation adopted on Wednesday morning a resolution urging the President and the Department of Transportation to reconsider the December 31, 2023 deadline. “’Yung mga pinagdadasal natin mukhang pinakinggan ng ating mahal na pangulo… Hindi talaga niya gusto mangyari ang kinatatakutan ninyo kaya may extension agad na ibinigay,” Romualdez told leaders of transport groups Piston and Manibela during their dialogue with House leaders. “Kaya po may oras naman tayo, may panahon tayo na mag-consolidate at maghanap tayo ng solusyon,” he added.
Piston National President Mody Floranda and Manibela Chairperson Mar Valbuena told lawmakers they welcome the deadline extension, but also appealed that their issues with the consolidation requirement, the planned phase out of traditional jeepneys, and other concerns be addressed before the government resumes implementing its modernization program. “Ayaw lang namin ‘yung consolidation pero magmo-modernize kami,” Valbuena said. “Sana suspendehin ang implementation hangga’t pinag-aaralan. Torture ‘yan sa operator at driver, dahil nangangamba ‘yan,” Floranda added.
Kabataan Party List Rep. Raoul Manuel and Gabriela Party List Rep. Arlene Brosas echoed their sentiments. “Sa tingin natin hindi ito ang solusyon sa pinaka-problema ng drivers at opeartors. ‘Yung pag-e-extend ay nangangahulugan na hindi fully naunawaan ang panawagan ng ating drivers at operators na ‘yung pag-phase out sa kanila, ‘yun ang i-scrap,” Brosas said. “Busisiin ng mabuti itong PUVMP… Dapat accessible. Dapat convenient para sa lahat. Dapat public transport system talaga na maglilingkod sa bayan lalu na sa mahihirap,” she urged the government. “Ang problema rito hindi lang naman ‘yung deadline. Ang problema yung sapilitang consolidation na ipinapatupad ng LTFRB,” Manuel also said.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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