Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Goddess Hope Libiran has issued a statement addressing the issues surrounding the Public Utility Vehicles PUV Modernization Program on Tuesday.

In a Facebook post, Libiran made it known that this DOTr project has been a long time coming as it has been brought up many administrations ago. Whenever someone proposes the idea, it would later receive backlash from the public, resulting to the government turning it down.

“Ang PUV Modernization ay HINDI PAGPABOR SA MAYAYAMAN. Ang pinapaboran po dito, mga COMMUTERS. We want to give them a safer and more comfortable commuting experience (The PUV Modernization does not favor the rich. It actually favors the commuters. We want to give them a safer and more comfortable commuting experience).”

The PUV Modernization was greenlighted in 2017 by President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, which allows DOTr to “set guidelines, criteria, and procedures for local public transport planning.”

This has allowed DOTr to execute various projects including local public transport route plan for the LGUs as well as a revised set of regulations for the PUV.

She continued, “Binigyan din po ng TATLONG TAONG TRANSITION PERIOD ang mga operator upang mag-consolidate bilang kooperatiba o korporasyon upang magkaroon ng proper fleet management, at magkaroon ng modernized units. Ito po ay in-extend pa hanggang Disyembre ngayong taon (Operators get a 3-year transition period to consolidate as cooperatives or corporation so there will be a proper fleet management and a modernized jeepney ready. This was extended until December this year).”

“NGUNIT, tandaan, kahit hindi bago o traditional jeepney pa ‘yan, kung papasa naman sa road worthiness standards, papayagan pa rin po ‘yang tumakbo (However, keep in mind that whether it is an old or traditional jeepney, if it passes the road worthiness standards, it would still be allowed to transport),” she clarified.

With the PUV Modernization Program in place, reduced air pollution is expected as it will stop the operations of smoke-belching vehicles. Aside from that, it will also put an end to the malpractices that has been happening on the road for many years now.

DOTr has so far ceased the boundary system, long waiting time, and confusing routes, among other things.

Read the Libiran’s statement here.

Photo Source: Asec. Goddes Hope Libiran Facebook Page