📷 Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena
WITH the government standing firm on the need to rid the streets of old but iconic traditional jeepneys, militant Manibela transport group asked the government to give unconsolidated jeepney drivers and operators a one-year provisional authority amid the crackdown against them.
Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena particularly sought a one-year grace period during which they would be allowed to use their prototype jeeps that meet the standards under the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), as “agreed upon during a hearing at the House of Representatives.”
“Papatunayan natin sa DOTr, sa LTFRB, sa gobyerno na kaya po nating sumabay na magpagawa ng sarili nating mga jeepney gamit itong ating mga franchise,” he Valbuena said in reference to the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Without blinking an eye, DOTr Undersecretary Andy Ortega rejected the compromise deal offered by the transport group.
Ortega insisted that there was no agreement made regarding such one-year provisional authority for unconsolidated jeepneys.
“Nandun ako sa Kongreso buong hearing. Mukhang nagkamali ata ng pagkaintindi ‘yung isang tao at isang grupo kasi walang naging kasunduan na gano’n. Ang pinaka nangyari, nagkaro’n ng suhestiyon ang isang kaibigan natin na congressman at ang sabi is pag-aaralan naman natin ang kanilang suhestiyon,” Ortega further averred.
“Pero ‘yung sinasabi na nagkasundo at dapat gawin ‘yun, definitely hindi po nangyari ‘yun,” he added.
In a May 21 hearing at the House of Representatives, Rizal Representative Jose Arturo “Jojo” Garcia Jr. called on the DOTr to allow the remaining 19% of PUVs that did not undergo consolidation to continue their operations.
“Yung ibang ‘old school,’ hindi pa nila kayang tanggapin ‘yan kaya maraming pang hindi sumusunod e…Sabi ko kay DOTr, aralin ninyo baka puwede naman ‘yung ayaw talaga, iyong mga hardliner, payagan na natin,” he said.
DOTr Undersecretary Ferdinand Ortega took note of Garcia’s suggestion.
“We appreciate yung statement in Congressman Garcia. Definitely po, any suggestion from this chamber po always accepted, talagang pinakikinggan ,” Ortega said during that hearing.
Valbuena clarified thay they are not against modernization initiative, even as he stressed that what they’re opposing is buying the specific jeepney models selected by the DOTr for the program as well as the consolidation of drivers and operators into cooperatives.
Ortega, meanwhile, said that the consolidation is already over, and the DOTr will continue implementing the PUVMP, pending the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition of some jeepney drivers and operators to halt the program.
When it comes to apprehension of unconsolidated jeepneys, the DOTr official emphasized that due process will be given.
“Bibigyan natin sila ng due process para that time, siguro mga next week po ‘to, na sila’y pwedeng lapitan, hanapan ng mga dokumento. Due process will be finished by then. Gagawin naman ng gobyerno ‘yung obligasyon na ‘wag payagang pumasada ang wala nang karapatan sa kalye,” he said.
The consolidation of individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations, which ended April 30, is the initial stage of the modernization program.
According to Valbuena, drivers and operators were asked to consolidate for the purpose of loan application in buying the jeepney models selected by the DOTr.
After the deadline, a total of 36,217 PUVs and 2,445 routes remain unconsolidated. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
