Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should reconsider its April 2022 phaseout of non-modernized or traditional jeepneys because it will add yet another burden to Filipinos in this pandemic.
The April deadline, which was announced by an LTFRB official in Central Visayas, will not only drive-up unemployment but also cause public transport shortage in many regions, he said.
“Sino ba naman ang ayaw sa modernisado at maayos na pampublikong sasakyan? Ang isyu dito ay ang paraan ng pagpapatupad dahil hindi nila binigyan ng sapat na oras, sapat na kakayahan ang mga jeepney drivers at gayun din ang mga may-ari ng jeep na bayaran iyan. Napakamahal nung modernized jeep,” Escudero, who is seeking a Senate comeback, said.
“At kapag pinilit nilang ‘wag payagan mamasada yung mga lumang jeep, magkukulang naman ang sasakyan kapag muling bumukas na ang ekonomiya natin. Magkukulang ang transportasyon para sa marami nating mga kababayan at manggagawa na kailangan ng pumasok sa kani-kanilang lugar na pinagtatrabahuan o kapag muli ng nagbukas ang mga paaralan para sa face-to-face classes.,” he said.
The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is a flagship program of the administration “which envisions a restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector.”
The PUVMP, passed in 2017, requires massive fleet modernization and disallows the registration or operation of jeepneys that are at least 15 years old. Only jeepneys with engines that are Euro-4 compliant, LPG-powered, electronic or hybrid will be given a franchise to operate.
According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the average price of modernized vehicles has gone up significantly, from Php1.6 million per unit to Php2.4 million, which compelled the government to increase its equity subsidy to PUV operators from Php80,000 to Php160,000 per unit that will be registered under the PUVMP.
“Namumuro sa away ang LTFRB kung sakali. Sino ba naman, sa panahon ngayon, ang kayang magbayad ng ganyang halaga para lamang makapasada? Kapag ganitong pandemya, ang una dapat nating isipin ay paano ba tayo magtutulungan para makabangon? Kapag ipinatupad ang jeepney modernization sa Abril, maraming drivers ang mawawalan ng kabuhayan at lalong maraming Pilipino, mga commuters, ang mawawalan ng sasakyan. So ano na ang benepisyo nitong modernization?” Escudero said.
He said the provincial board of Sorsogon has passed a resolution allowing traditional jeeps to continue plying their routes at least until June 30, when a new set of local officials are elected in the province.
“Sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon, hindi ko pinayagan yung modernization nila. At nananatiling tapat kami sa pinangako namin sa mga jeepney drivers na patuloy silang makakapasada at hindi namin papahintulutan ang LTFRB dito sa aming lalawigan kaugnay ng polisiya nila na modernization,” Escudero said.
He urged PUV operators and drivers to approach their local government officials, especially the governor, to gather support against the phaseout of traditional jeepneys and to allow them to continue operating beyond April.
Besides fleet modernization, the PUVMP has devolved the function of route planning to local government units, which are required to submit their own Local Public Transport Plan (LPTRP) as a pre-requisite for the opening of PUV franchises in their areas.