Last week’s two-day strikes and heated congressional hearing should serve as a wake-up call for the executive department to implement an inclusive, people-oriented approach to the jeepney modernization program.
Terry Ridon, chairperson of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor made the statement on Monday as debates on the jeepney modernization program continued to rage following Piston’s two-day jeepney strike.
During a congressional hearing last week, transportation officials admitted that they have yet to map out a timeline for how the plan will be rolled out.
“We are still working on preparations for the timeline. We are saying it’s going to be before the end of the year,” said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra III.
Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark de Leon said the modernization program is part of a bigger plan to improve the country’s public transportation system.
“Primordial to this PUV modernization is the route rationalization study,” said De Leon.
Ridon said the pending timelines give social development agencies like PCUP an opportunity to conduct social preparation activities with the different jeepney organizations, particularly unaffiliated single operators-drivers.
“Our intervention is premised on an inclusive, people-oriented approach to the modernization program: a) existing operators-drivers have first priority in respect to routes, franchise, and preferential financing, and b) those who would opt out of the transport sector should be provided an alternative livelihood opportunity equivalent to their economic displacement,” Ridon said.
Ridon added that the removal of jeepneys from the roads should be based not only on age, but conclusively as a result of the yet to be finalized route rationalization study.
Meanwhile, Ridon lauded the LTFRB for undertaking pilot areas in Taguig City, Pateros, and Pasay City.
“You will see how the PUV [public utility vehicle] modernization program will come into being with the pilot programs,” Delgra said in the congressional hearing.
Ridon said this was among his agency’s proposals on how to proceed with a gradual modernization plan, as this provides government an opportunity to show its proof of concept, economic viability and operational durability.
“In fact, we are ready to work with our transport agencies to propose new pilot routes to service our off-city relocation sites which have no reliable transport systems,” said Ridon.
Ridon said the new pilot routes serve as a developmental objective to address employment and livelihood issues in the relocation sites, and allow transport agencies to prove operational viability.
“We need to consult with the stakeholders on realistic financial computations to make the modernization plan viable as an economic activity,” Ridon said.
Ridon said as government seeks to undertake a massive modernization program which may displace hundreds of thousands of drivers, the financing program should reflect variable subsidies and loan schemes to minimize its effect on the net income of drivers-operators.
“The most acceptable financial arrangement should be nothing less than the present net income of drivers-operators, if not higher,” Ridon said.
Ridon said operational durability is a primordial concern in the provinces, as presently, jeepneys are still being used to not only bring people but also cargo to far-flung communities with no reliable road networks.
“District congressmen correctly raised this question on the durability of the new units, because many roads around the country are yet to be paved with concrete, and it would be a disservice if the new units conk out on their way to the hinterlands,” Ridon said.
