SENATORS are inclined to believe that the administration is not yet ready to implement its planned modernization of public utility vehicles (PUVs), specifically, jeepneys.
This floated as the Senate Committee on Public Services wrapped up Monday its inquiry into the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) PUV Modernization Program, which it launched June last year.
“Ang malinaw ang gobyerno ay hindi pa handa na i-phaseout ang mga public utility vehicles na non-compliant doon sa modernization requirements nila, dahil hindi nga malinaw kung anong requirements nila, eh,” Senator Grace Poe, committee chairwoman, said.
Poe, recalling the transport groups’ lamentations, specifically noted that operators and drivers are still lost on how to avail of the government’s loan program so they could buy eco-friendly jeepney units worth R1.8 million at most.
Transport leaders, in the hearing, said state-owned banks require operators to have parking lots before being allowed to borrow funds for their purchase of new jeepneys. This requirement, they said, add to their burden of having to replace their old jeepney units.
Poe also stressed the lack in consultation between the DoTr, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and operators and stakeholders in the implementation of the program. (Vanne Terrazola)
