Eleazar urges government to delay PUJ phaseout

MANILA, Philippines — Former police chief and senatorial candidate Guillermo Eleazar yesterday urged the government to delay the implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program to allow the transport sector to bounce back from economic losses sustained due to COVID-19 lockdowns and runaway oil prices.

Eleazar said pushing for the implementation of the program which phases out jeepneys and buses plying the streets for 15 years or more would only contribute to the burden of drivers and operators already battered by the pandemic and the series of oil price hikes.

“It’s better if those from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and transport groups will hold a dialogue to reach a compromise to benefit all those involved,” he said in Filipino.

The PUV Modernization Program was launched by the DOTr in 2017 to transform the country’s public transportation system and make it more efficient and environment-friendly.

It targets to replace all PUVs, such as traditional jeepneys and buses, with modern vans or mini-buses. The program’s implementation is set in April.

Eleazar, however, said operators and drivers might not be able to afford the loans being offered by the government to avail themselves of the modern vehicles.

Revolutionary gov’t a slap on voters – Roque

Meanwhile, UniTeam senatorial candidate Harry Roque said calls for a revolutionary government are a big slap on both the Constitution and the Filipino electorate who want to lawfully and peacefully exercise their democratic rights in the May elections.

The former presidential spokesman urged the pro-revolutionary government group to respect the Constitution and prevailing laws because the country is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and dealing with the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, former vice president and senatorial candidate Jejomar Binay urged authorities to consider the position taken by the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and its workers opposing a full return to physical office work.

“It will be in the best interest not only of the industry but of the economy if our economic managers heed the position taken by the industry and its workers,” Binay said.

He also said threatening BPO firms with the possible removal of incentives because of work-from-home setups could send the wrong signal to potential investors.

“Threatening BPO companies with a possible rescinding of incentives for non-compliance is too coercive,” Binay said.