Transport group hails DOTr 1-year allowance for old, road-worthy jeeps

A transport group on Thursday welcomed the decision of the Department of Transportation giving one year allowance to old but road-worthy jeepneys, in view of the phase-out deadline in 2020.

Under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), around 170,000 jeepneys should be replaced by new modern units by July 1, 2020.

DOTr recently announced that they will give operators, who would not be able to replace their units before the deadline, a one-year allowance to operate but only if their old units are tested still road-worthy.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines president Zenaida Maranan said operators were thankful of DOTr’s consideration.

While welcoming the one-year allowance for road-worthy jeepneys, Maranan admitted that PUV modernization is truly needed because some jeepneys are dilapidated already. 

“Yan sinasabi nila, totoo naman 'yan na mayroong talagang kailangan lamang [ayusin]. Sinasabi ko sa grupo namin, ang modernization ay hindi puwedeng itigil,” she said.

Maranan underscored that the group supports the PUV modernization, but not the policy of the program.

“Kung kami ay tatanungin, ang kinokontra lang namin 'yung polisiya,” she said.

For Maranan, the P2-million price of a modern jeepney unit is too expensive for operators to afford. She also criticized the plan of requiring operators of the same route to establish a fleet.

“Mas maraming kawawa sa fleet management pagkat hindi naman nag-aral ng accounting yan (operators) para magpatakbo ng isang fleet management,” she said.

“Dapat i-train muna nila (DOTr) lahat. Huwag nilang isadlak ang maliliit na operators sa isang polisiyang hindi nila kayang dalhin,” she added. —Joviland Rita/LBG GMA News