Rody serious on transport modernization plan

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is serious about modernizing public utility vehicles (PUVs), including jeepneys, the chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said yesterday.

“Just last night, the President reminded us again to push through with the PUV modernization program,” LTFRB chair Martin Delgra told the House committee on transportation, which conducted a hearing on the transport strike last Monday and Tuesday.

He said the LTFRB would pilot-test the program on three routes in Metro Manila in December after transportation experts from the University of the Philippines submit their proposed route rationalization plan to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) next month.

“One route is from Rizal to Metro Manila, another in Makati and the third in Pateros,” he said.

He said new vehicles would be used in the pilot-test.

“We want to see the results before we expand the program,” he added.

DOTr Assistant Secretary Mark de Leon said aside from Metro Manila, UP planners are also doing route rationalization plans for Metro Cebu and Davao City.

He said the plans would indicate passenger demand, mode of transportation needed (whether jeepneys, buses, taxis or other PUVs) and the number of units required.

The franchising of units would be based on studies, he said.

De Leon noted that at present, PUVs are more than enough in some routes in Metro Manila while they are lacking in other areas.

Delgra chided the jeepney group Piston for resorting to a strike to protest the supposed phase-out of jeepneys and the modernization program.

“We have been open and transparent with them. We have gone the extra mile to talk to them and explain the program. Yet, they resorted to this protest action that inconvenienced millions of commuters,” he said.

De Leon said modernization would benefit not only passengers but jeepney operators as well.

“With new units, PUV owners will increase their passenger capacity by 20 percent, decrease their fuel cost by 43 percent, since the vehicles will be fuel efficient, and their maintenance cost will go down by 17 percent,” he said.

There will be less pollution, noted some members of the House transportation committee. President Duterte has given jeepney operators until January to replace their units or these would be impounded.

Despite the three-year transition period before the phase-out of jeepneys more than 15 years old, DOTr Undersecretary Tim Orbos stands by pronouncements of President Duterte to have old jeepneys phased out by January next year. 

He said that they abide by Duterte’s order and make sure that jeepney modernization program will be implemented next year. 

Orbos said that they are now talking with all sectors involved in the jeepney modernization project including financial institutions, assemblers, the LTFRB and transport groups. 

LTFRB’s Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance highlights the local public transport route plan, vehicle specifications, operator requirements and the three-year transition period. 

Under the LTFRB’s order jeepneys that are 15 years or older will be phased out by 2020, contrary to Duterte’s statements.