“‘Yung pagbasura ng modernization program natin ay siguro ay hindi naman tama. Kailangan imodernize natin ‘yung ating public utility vehicles… ang tawag ko nga diyan ‘yung CASA sa amin sa transport sector, CASA is very important no? CASA means na convenient, accessible, safe and secure, and affordable,” Bautista said in an interview with reporters in Manila City.
(The scrapping of our modernization program is probably not right. We need to modernize our public utility vehicles. We call it CASA which means convenient, accessible, safe and secure, and affordable.)
“‘Yan ang laging pinag-iisipan namin sa transport sector and kung hindi mamomodernize yung PUVs, hindi natin maiimplement ‘yung CASA program ng Department of Transportation,” he added.
(If we will not modernize our public utility vehicles, the CASA program of the Department of Transportation will not be implemented.)
Baustista expressed confidence that issues regarding the matter, particularly amid the upcoming one week transport strike of groups of PUV drivers to express their opposition against the modernization program, will be ironed out.
He said he had already talked to Mar Valbuena, who announced on Monday, February 27, that 40,000 drivers of traditional jeepneys and UV Express in Metro Manila will join the seven-day transport holiday, which will badly affect the public.
Baustista ordered the concerned government agencies including the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to conduct a dialogue with the transport groups to settle the matter.
“Siguro pakikiusapan pa rin natin sila na ‘wag ituloy at marami namang mga grupo na sumusuporta sa ating modernization program. Ako ay very positive na mapag-uusapan ‘yung issue at hindi mangyayari ‘yung strike next week,” Bautista said.
(Maybe we will still ask them not to continue [the strike]. There are many groups that support our modernization program. I am very positive that the transport strike will not happen next week.)
In particular, transport groups want the government to scrap the deadline for traditional jeepney operators and drivers to join cooperatives or risk losing their franchises or provisional authorities (PAs) which is on June 30.
The program also aims to replace the old and traditional jeepneys with high-quality and environment-friendly vehicles with bigger capacity.
Bautista assured that the government will listen to the sentiments of the affected sector and is willing to compromise for the common good.
Meanwhile, Senate public service committee chairperson Grace Poe said the government should not take for granted the complaints of the PUV drivers and should keep the line of communications open.
Poe ordered the DOTr to submit an update on the modernization program to see where it is now and whether the targets are achievable.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero for his part said the government should review the phase-out policy, time table, financial package, and subsidy and assistance to the affected drivers and operators.
“This was hastily planned, haphazardly implemented and offered no safety nets whatsoever to the drivers and operators. It will not benefit anyone, especially the drivers who earn daily,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)