Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Saturday stated he was open to extending the December 31, 2023 deadline for jeepney operators to consolidate or type cooperatives in compliance with the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.
“Kami ay willing na makipagusap. Naglagay tayo ng deadline na December 31. Kung tuloy-tuloy ang paguusap natin at makita natin na hindi pa kaya [to comply with the deadline], puwede natin i-extend hindi ba? Kaya nga dayalogo ang sagot dito sa ating mga issues,” Bautista advised reporters on the sidelines of the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
(We’re prepared to speak. If we frequently talk about issues and we see that assembly the December 31 deadline is just not potential, we are able to lengthen it, proper? That’s why discussing issues is the reply to our issues.)
On Wednesday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) introduced it can once more lengthen the June 30 deadline for jeepney operator to type cooperatives till the tip of the yr amid the deliberate week-long transport strike of some transport teams opposing the PUV Modernization Program.
This is the sixth time the LTFRB has prolonged the deadline for jeepney operators to type cooperatives, a requirement beneath the PUV Modernization Program.
Under this system, jeepney drivers and operators are required to affix or type cooperatives or companies.
The program additionally goals to exchange conventional jeepneys with autos powered by extra environment-friendly fuels, significantly Euro-5 or Euro-6 compliant engines.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB clarified in the course of the Senate public companies listening to that conventional jeepneys can nonetheless function as lengthy they consolidate or grow to be a part of a cooperative.
During the discussion board, Bautista stated, “Gusto namin makita na nagkakaroon ng effort ang mga hindi pa nagko-consolidate.”
(We need to see those that haven’t but consolidated make an effort.)
“Kailangan makita natin na sinusuportahan nila ang programa kaya sa ngayon gusto naming ilagay ang deadline sa December 31,” the Transportation chief stated.
(We need to see them supporting this system. That’s why, for now, we set the deadline for December 31.)
Bautista stated that greater than 60% of operators had consolidated their operations.
“Merong mga region na halos 100% na ‘yung consolidation kaya nga sabi nga namin kung merong mga region na outside of Metro Manila na 100% nakapag-consolidate na there’s no reason na hindi natin magagawa sa other regions,” he stated.
(There are areas the place 100% of operators have consolidated. That’s why we stated that if there have been areas outdoors of Metro Manila the place 100% p.c have consolidated, there isn’t any motive we won’t do it in different areas.)
On Friday, the DOTr chief additionally proposed that the LTFRB calm down the necessities of the PUV Modernization Program to accommodate all operators and drivers.
As of February 25, 2022, DOTr’s information confirmed that a minimum of 1,156 cooperatives, companies, and different consolidated corporations with consolidated franchises function 98,801 PUJ models.
Meanwhile, 406 consolidated entities are working 14,289 franchised UVE models.
DOTr famous that the Office of Transportation Cooperatives had accredited 1,715 transport service cooperatives with 261,853 members, consisting of operators and drivers, as of January 2023.
“A total of 6,814 units of modern PUVs already run a total of over 400 routes, according to the Transport chief,” it stated. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
