Diwa Partylist Rep. Michael Aglipay filed House Bill 4823, which aims to break the deadlock in the implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The bill proposes a middle ground on the replacement of existing PUV units and provides an option for jeepneys that are roadworthy to be required only to have engine replacements that are Euro 4 compliant and make body modifications.
Aglipay said the bill will also augment the financial capacity of PUJ drivers and operators to modernize their units.
The bill also provides compensation option and assistance to drivers and operators who will opt not to take part in the modernization program.
HB 4823 affords protection to existing franchise holders by providing priority rights on route assignment and allowing operation of single unit operators under certain conditions.
The measure provides for a government subsidy of P100,000; a buy-out arrangement option of P400,000; loan interest fixed at 5 percent and amortization period of at least 10 years.
Citing the DOTr, Aglipay said there are about 180,000 franchised PUJ nationwide which will be affected by the program.
“PUJs are the most popular and cheapest mode of transportation, taken by millions of riding public, who will, likewise, be affected by the possible fare increase,” he said. “For the past two years, the PUVMP has not achieved significant progress and remains to be highly controversial gaining the strong opposition from various transport groups, resulting in an impasse on the implementation of the program.”
In the same conference, Dindo Rosales of Alyansa Kontra PUV phaseout said the nationwide strike will push through in Metro Manila and even in provinces on Monday.
While they are not against modernization, Efren De Luna, national president of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), appealed to government to restudy the immediate phaseout of PUV by July 2020.
For his part, Jun Magno from Stop and Go Coalition urged President Duterte to hear their complaints and scrap altogether the PUV’s modernization until those affected area ready to absorb the impact of the program.
“It is not our intention to make it difficult for the riding public. We don’t want to burden you but we have to do this so the President would hear our appeals,” he said.
The groups also demanded the postponement of the implementation of the modernization to another three years starting next year’s ultimatum set by government.