Transport strikes won't stop government's jeepney modernization plan —LTFRB

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra on Monday said the government will push through with its jeepney modernization plan despite continuing strikes by drivers and operators.

"I would like to point na ang isinusulong nila is ang interes ng mga PUJ (public utility jeepney) operators in particular, but as I've said the overriding interest of the riding public is [the government's] priority," Delgra told GMA News' Unang Balita in an interview.

He said the government, the LTFRB in particular, will continue to engage the jeepney operators to make them understand the benefits of the phaseout program.

Jeepney operators are complaining that the government's financial package is unaffordable.

They said 600,000 drivers and 300,000 operators will lose their jobs because of the jeepney modernization plan.

The government is pushing for environment-friendly PUJs to replace the old passenger jeepneys.

Members of No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition gathered on Quezon City's Elliptical Road early Monday to start a transport caravan.

They are planning to head to Don Chino Roces Bridge (Mendiola), near Malacañang, and seek an audience with President Rodrigo Duterte regarding their concerns about the phaseout.

Delgra, meanwhile, insisted that the financial package being offered to jeepney operators comes with a very low interest.

Each operator are offered to avail of a P1.2-million to P1.6-million loan package from the state-run Land Bank of the Philippines at an interest of 6 percent, payable in five to seven years.

Delgra also said that the government will provide jeepney operators an P80,000-subsidy for each unit that will be affected by the phase out. The subsidy covers five-percent equity of the loan package.

"Wala na silang ipu-put up na equity. Mukhang sobra pa nga ang P80,000 per unit na ibibigay ng gobyerno for them," the LTFRB chair added. —ALG, GMA News