By ILOILO CITY, July 29 – Led by the No To PUV Phaseout Coalition Western Visayas (NTPPC-WV), over a hundred traditional jeepneys and private vehicles joined today’s transport caravan in Iloilo City to celebrate a ‘historic victory’ over the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The group welcomed the call of several Senators to recommend the temporary suspension of the PUVMP during the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing last July 23. During the hearing, transport leaders and other stakeholders voiced their grievances and concerns about the program’s implementation.
KABAKOD representative Lilian Sembrano criticized the PUVMP for favoring the interests of local government units (LGUs), government agencies, and pro-modernization groups while ignoring the concerns of drivers, operators, and passengers. NTPPC-WV lead convenor Elmer Forro expressed concerns that the program could lead to the loss of cooperatives, highlighting issues with the government’s push for loans for imported mini buses and the enforcement of Local Public Transport Route Plans (LPTRPs). Small operators also pointed out that they are losing their properties, and income, and are facing lawsuits due to consolidation requirements. Additionally, Noli Rosales from UNDOC PISTON provided examples of the Cooperative Development Authority’s (CDA) inadequacies in resolving coop issues, particularly concerning monopolization and control by questionable leaders.
These issues faced by drivers, operators, and commuters nationwide prompted the Senate Committee on Public Services to recognize the need to immediately pass a resolution to suspend the PUVMP.
“A great salute to all the drivers, operators, and citizens who stood together, took action, and took a stand against the PUVMP!” said NTPPC-WV.
“This is proof that our unity and collective action are the only things that can bring light to the darkness of our ordeal. We, the people, are the ones carving our history, writing our future,” the group added.
The NTPPC-WV vowed to continue the fight until the “anti-driver, anti-operator, anti-commuter, and anti-people PUVMP” is fully scrapped./PT
