DOTr’s Bautista: We never recommended immediate phaseout of traditional jeepneys

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Wednesday said the government will not move forward with completely phasing out traditional jeepneys until there are enough units of modernized jeepneys to support the demand of commuters.

“Actually, we never recommended the immediate phaseout of the [traditional] jeepney,” Bautista said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum.

“There are many components in the PUV Modernization Program. The phaseout is one of the last,” the Transportation chief said.

Bautista’s remarks came on the heels of the announcement of transport groups Manibela and PISTON that they will end their planned week-long transport strike following a meeting with officials including Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil.

Both PISTON president Mody Floranda and Manibela leader Mar Valbuena declared that their members will resume plying their routes on Wednesday following the meeting and expressed support for the PUVMP “in ways where no one gets left behind, just, humane, and reasonable.”

PUV groups have scheduled a week-long transport strike from March 6 to 12, to express their opposition to the PUV Modernization Program, as operators have appealed to give them more time to shift to modern jeepneys beyond the June 30 deadline.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extended the deadline to December 31, 2023 following the announcement of the transport strike, in deference to a Senate resolution and the request of Bautista.

The DOTr and the LTFRB, during the Senate public services hearing, clarified that traditional jeepneys can still operate as long as they are consolidated or part of a cooperative.

Under the program, jeepney drivers and operators are required to join or form cooperatives or corporations.

The program also aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles powered by more environment-friendly fuels, at least Euro-4, Euro-5, or Euro-6 compliant engines.

Bautista reiterated that as long jeepney operators consolidate their operations into a cooperative they can still ply the roads and serve the commuting public.

The Transportation chief said that allowing traditional jeepneys to operate will not be indefinite, but they will be allowed “hanggang mapalitan sila, kung meron nang enough capacity (until they are replaced once there are enough modern jeepneys).”

“Halimbawa, marami nang nag-order ng mga modern jeepney and itong capacity na ito will be enough to support the requirement ay kailangan i-phaseout na ito,” Bautista said.

(For example, if there are many operators who acquired modern jeepneys and it will be enough to support the requirement then we need to phase out.)

“What we meant by phaseout is we will not allow the use of not road-worthy, as long as the units are road-worthy and comply with the Philippine National Standards we will allow the use of these units,” he said.

Bautista also reiterated that he is open to extending the December 31, 2023 deadline for jeepney operators to consolidate or form cooperatives in compliance with the PUVMP.

The Transportation chief said Manibela and PISTON agreed that they will not continue with the strike and “they will support the modernization program but in phases.”

“I told Manibela to talk to me, have a dialogue and I will explain to the them the modernization program, I will listen to their complaints, issues, and we we’ll work together so we can implement the modernization as efficiently as we can considering what their concerns and what their recommendations are,” he said.

Remodeling

Bautista also said that remodeling of traditional jeepneys will be allowed “as long as they will comply with the Philippine National Standards.”

In a separate statement, the LTFRB said it is open to maintaining the look of traditional jeepneys, but it should be compliant with the Philippine National Standards set by the Bureau of Philippine Standards under the Department of Trade and Industry.

“The modernized jeep that you saw is clear proof that the traditional look can be maintained so the possibility of a phase out is very, very remote. What we only wanted was to improve the roadworthiness of the vehicle,” said LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III.

Among the most noticeable features include a higher ceiling so passengers can stand inside, with doors on the right side near the driver and also a door at the back as exit points.

It can also be fitted with air-conditioners or even small electric fans for a non-air conditioned environment, plus other features such as CCTV cameras for security.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said that he wants to ensure that no driver will lose their job over the government's PUV Modernization program. Marcos also thanked transport groups for their decision to end the strike.—AOL, GMA Integrated News