Gatchalian acknowledges transport crisis; pushes for transport reforms

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday acknowledged that there was a transportation and traffic crisis in Metro Manila, and this was why the country was in need of transportation reforms.

“Pag tatanungin ako kung ano malala, [it] is really the traffic crisis kasi makikita natin na talagang malala ang trapik sa atin kahit anong oras, walang pinipiling oras, o lugar," Gatchalian said in a radio interview. "Meron talaga tayong traffic crisis kasi meron tayo transport crisis and transpo problem.

“[K]ulang ang tren, kulang [ang] istasyon, hindi nagagamit mabuti. Pagdating sa jeep at bus, yung jeep lumang mode na dapat palitan na ng mas malaki tulad ng modern jeep at e-jeep.”

The government was in the process of enforcing the Public Utility Vehicle's (PUV) Modernization Program, which aims to phase out jeepneys 15 years older and replace them with modern jeepneys.

However, transport groups have been critical of the program as each modern jeepney would cost over P2 million.

“Dapat may sakripisyo at reporma. Masakit sa una pero sa dulo naman magiging maginhawa. Lumalabas na sobra sobra ang jeep natin at di na episyente dahil maliit ang capacity. 'di rin dugtong-dugtong ang ruta,” Gatchalian explained.

The senator also emphasized that it was crucial that the public and the government cooperated on the program.

“Kailangan talaga ng reporma na marami ang magagalit, marami nagistrike. So ibig sabihin importante na maintindihan ng transport sector na kung gusto nating guminhawa, mag o-operate tayo sa repormang ipinatutupad ng pamahalaan,” Gatchalian said.

“[A]ng importante ngayon solusyon, at mag-cooperate tayo, kasi ang transpo parating sinisisi ang gobyerno. Pero pag nagi-implement ng reporma ayaw naman. Importante rin na tayo sumunod sa repormang gustong iimplement.” — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News