malaysiang
CEBU CITY: The federation of modern public utility vehicle (PUV) operators in Cebu on Thursday warned of transport disorder if the 22 senators push through with their move to suspend the Department of Transportation’s PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Ellen Maghanoy, chairperson of the Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives (FCTC), said the national government, particularly the lawmakers, should also listen to the plight of the transport cooperatives who cooperated with the national government to modernize the public transport sector.
Maghanoy said modern PUVs are also experiencing difficulty competing with traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJ) in passenger demand, cost of operating the fleet, and fuel consumption.
‘Transport coops will be in disarray if they will suspend the modernization. It will flood the streets of traditional PUJs,’ Maghanoy told reporters in a press conference with 11 cooperatives that are members of FCTC.
According to her, the economy will be affected if the PUVMP is suspen
ded, citing the possible lay-off of more or less 500 workers of each cooperative.
He also warned about the possibility of returning their modern PUJ units to the manufacturers if they could no longer cope with the amortization.
‘We are paying the banks for the loans in acquiring our units. If the modernization is suspended, can the Land Bank of the Philippines or Development Bank of the Philippines transform our obligations into a grant?’ Maghanoy asked.
Maghanoy’s remarks came after 22 senators filed a resolution pushing for the temporary suspension of the public transport modernization program.
Senate Resolution No. 1096 was filed on Monday, citing an urgent need to thoroughly review and reassess the impact of the modernization program affecting the public transport sector.
DOTr set on April 30, 2024, the deadline for consolidation of PUVs, but it has not fully implemented the stoppage of operation of traditional jeepneys.
The resolution pointed out that 36,217 units, representing approximately 19 per
cent of the jeepneys and other PUVs, have not consolidated yet.
Source: Philippines News agency
