Marcos wants to raise insurance coverage of PUVs — Dizon

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon disclosed Thursday that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. also wants to increase the insurance coverage of public utility vehicles following recent road crashes.

In an interview with Palace reporters, Dizon said the President believes in ensuring the safety of commuters since they pay fares, adding that PUVs are mostly involved in recent road accidents.

''So ang insurance napaka-importante niyan at ang panawagan ng Pangulo itaas nang todo ang insurance, ang pagkakaalam ko eh itapat ang insurance sa pribado doon sa PUV. Tingin ko napakagandang ideya po niyan at 'yan po ang pipilitin nating magawa, at kakausapin natin ang LTO at LTFRB na kailangan i-impose natin 'yan,'' Dizon said.

(Insurance is also important and the President wants to increase to the maximum level the insurance, and as far as I know, he wants to level the insurance coverage of private vehicles to that of PUVs. For me, that's a good idea and we will ensure that this will be implemented and we will tell LTO and LTFRB that this must be imposed.)

''Lalung-lalo na ngayon kita natin sa dami ng mga kasidente and marami sa mg aksidente, PUV. Ang mga kababayan natin... kaya 'yan ang sinabi ng Pangulo, nagbabayad 'yan. Nagbabayad 'yan ng pasahe pero kapalit noong pagbayad nila ng pasahe eh 'yung makakauwi dapat sila ng safe,'' he added.

(Especially now, in most accidents, PUVs are involved. The President said our kababayans pay for their fares so in exchange for that, their safety must be ensured.)

Dizon said they would discuss this with bus companies and PUV operators to determine their capability of absorbing and providing higher insurance coverage. Still, he underscored that there should be a balance so that the PUV operators and owners would not be burdened by this measure.

''Kailangan kausapin natin nang mabuti ang industriya. Ang mga bus companies, ang mga PUV siyempre wala namang libre sa mundo, may kailangang magbayad nang mas mataas na premium ng insurance,'' he said.

(We need to talk to the transport industry. The bus companies, PUVs, of course nothing's free so someone needs to pay a higher premium rate of the insurance.)

''Walang libre sa mundo, kailangan may magbabayad kung mataas ang premium, kailangan mabalanse natin 'yan pero titingnan natin, titingnan natin ang kakayahan ng mga operator ng mga bus company para iabsorb 'yan,'' he said.

(Nothing's free and there's a need to pay higher premium rates, we need to balance this, we will check how the operators of bus companies will absorb this.)

Definitely, the decision on this matter will be released this year, according to Dizon.

On Wednesday, Marcos directed the Department of Transportation to study the proposal that seeks to increase the insurance coverage of private cars that figure in road mishaps with public utility vehicles.

In particular, the President tasked Dizon to review the proposal regarding PUV insurance payment coverage, which currently provides higher benefits for PUV passengers as compared to lower rates for mishap victims in private cars.

Earlier reports said the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap) has urged Marcos to adopt the insurance system for PUVs to that of private motor vehicles to ensure fair benefits claims in cases of death and permanent disability. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News