LTFRB to consider extending PUV modernization deadline

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday said it would consider transport groups' request that the three-year transition period for the modernization of public utility vehicles, or PUV, be extended to five years.

However, in an interview on GMA News TV's "Balitanghali," LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III emphasized that, until declared otherwise, the timeline set last year was still the target.

"So there's still much time to implement and if, at some point in time, kailangan natin sabihin kulang pa 'yung panahon na binigay natin sa departamento o sa gobyerno, for that matter, na ma-implement itong programang ito, then we will consider extending the transition period," Delgra explained.

"Pero, sa ngayon, tuloy pa rin tayo sa pag-implement nito sa modernization program."

Transport groups had been protesting against Memorandum Circular 2018-008 or the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, which requires PUV operators to replace their fleet with Euro-4 utility, solar, or electric vehicles in a year — shorter than the three-year transition period of the PUV modernization program.

Attempting to allay fears, Delgra explained that the given "time line" did was not a "deadline" for existing franchise holders.

"'Yung mga prankisa nila, 'yung mga unit nila, patuloy pong valid 'yung franchise," he said.

"Patuloy na gagamitin nila 'yung mga unit nila under the existing franchise. Kasi po, na sa loob pa rin po tayo ng transition period. So hindi po ibig sabihin na mawawala na 'yung mga existing unit nila after March 2019."

‘Not ready’

Transport groups had told the Senate on Monday that they opposed the implementation of MO 2018-008.

After the hearing, Senate committee on public services chairman Senator Grace Poe said it was clear that the government was not ready for a total PUV phaseout.

Poe also pointed out that PUV operators could not entirely be blamed for failing to comply with the requirements of the modernization program.

"Ang malinaw, ang gobyerno ay hindi pa handa na i-phase out ang lahat ng mga public utility vehicles na non-compliant du'n sa modernization requirement nila, dahil hindi nga malinaw kung ano 'yung mga requirements nila eh," Poe said.

For the DOTr's part, Transportation Undersecretary Tim Orbos said, "Naririnig naman po namin ang mga hinaing nila at ito po talaga ay kinokonsidera ng ating departamento."

Transport strike

Apart from grievances with the modernization program, transport groups were also waiting on their petition for an increase in the jeepney base fare to P12.

The LTFRB would decide on the petition within the week or the next, though Delgra argued that jeepney operators had been granted a one-peso provisional increase.

"So 'yung desicion natin is whether mananatili 'yung provisional increase o kung mananatili man 'yung tanong na madadagdagan ba? Kung magdadagdag, magkano 'yung madadagdag?" he explained.

With the modernization program and the rising oil prices, transport groups have called on the government to ease some of the burdens carried by operators.

"'Yung mga mayaman dito, lalo niyong payayamanin. 'Yung mahirap, lalo pong maghihirap dito sa programang 'to," Stop and Go Coalition President Dan Yumul said during the Senate hearing.

Zenaida Maranan, who chairs the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), warned operators might resort to undesirable means of income to make up for their losses.

"Sana maunawaan niyo po kami. Paano namin maagapan 'yan kung hindi niyo tatanggalin ang polisiyang napakabigat. Hindi namin kaya na 100 percent, tatanggalin niyo ang mga maliliit na operator na 'pag nawalan ng hanap buhay, saan' na ho kukuha 'yan? Magbebenta na ng droga 'yan," Maranan said.

On the other hand, George San Mateo, president of the Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), urged authorities to understand the situation the transport sector finds itself in, and thus not accuse them of plotting against the government.

"'Yung DOTr, 'wag sanang nagtatataka na Red October 'yung mga protesta ng transport sector. Kasi dine-demonize nila 'yung pagkilos ng mga driver," he said. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News