DOTr to proceed with PUV modernization pending SC decision

Jeepney drivers and operators belonging to the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) hold a picket protest in front of the Supreme Court on Padre Faura Street in Manila to call for the immediate release of a temporary restraining order against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The group fears that the implementation of PUVMP will disenfranchise many drivers and operators. DANNY PATA

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Sunday stood firm that they would implement the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) while awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition of jeepney drivers and operators to halt the program.

DOTr Undersecretary Andy Ortega said this in a Super Radyo dzBB interview two days before the application period for consolidation of individual PUV operators to form transportation cooperatives or corporations ends on April 30.

“It’s best to be fair to everybody. Hintayin na lang siguro ‘yung decision ng Supreme Court para malaman natin kung ang magiging final say ng Supreme Court. But hanggang wala ‘yun, siguro we’re moving forward,” said Ortega.

(It’s best to be fair to everybody. Maybe we just have to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision to learn the final word on this matter. But pending that, it might be best if we move forward.)

“Siguro sila maghihintay ng decision. Siguro ‘yun ang tamang paraan,” he added.

(Maybe the transport group will await the decision. Maybe that’s the right thing to do.)

Transport group PISTON last Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to act on their petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the PUVMP.

It was in December 2023, when PISTON and other transport groups asked the High Court to declare several government transportation agency issuances as null and void and issue a TRO to prevent the respondents from enforcing the said issuances.

The SC earlier said the PISTON petitions were still under deliberation.

In protest of the PUVMP and the looming April 30 consolidation deadline, PISTON announced they would hold a three-day nationwide strike from April 29 to May 1.

The PUVMP, which started in 2017, aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles with at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace PUVs that were not roadworthy by the standards of the Land Transportation Office.

Under the program, jeepney drivers and operators were required to join or form cooperatives. They could also apply for new franchises but as part of transport cooperatives. — DVM, GMA Integrated News

This article DOTr to proceed with PUV modernization pending SC decision was originally published in GMA News Online.