Jeepney drivers and operators picket outside the Supreme Court in Manila on June 11, 2024, reitierating their call to the judiciary to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the public utility vehicle modernization program. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- An official of the Department of Transportation says the agency is currently preparing its answer detailing the real status of the implementation of the PUV modernization program.

This comes after several senators called for the suspension of the PUVMP, citing the program’s supposed failure to make public transportation in the Philippines reliable and safe for everyone.

READ: Senators hint at reso to suspend jeepney modernization program

"On the part naman po ng DOTr, we are preparing our answer, rather, a letter po para mai-clarify or maisabi po natin sa ating mga butihing senador iyong totoong status, totoong estado po na magandang programa natin which is the public transportation modernization program," DOTR Road Transport and Infrastructure Undersecretary Andy Ortega said in a televised briefing.

Ortega maintains that the majority of operators and drivers are firm on the position that the program should be supported. In fact a number of transport cooperatives are currently planning a series of actions supporting the PUV modernization.

"Halong lungkot, pero may halo rin galit because they feel that they are the majority, which they are. And they feel that they have embraced na program, at alam nila na tuluy-tuloy na ito kaya they’ve invested a lot of time and money sa programa, because they believed in the program of the government," he said. 

"So mayroon silang mixed emotion na lungkot pero galit. That’s why they are now, parang sama-sama po iyong mga transport cooperative pati natin iyong mga corporations sa buong Pilipinas and they plan to do some series of actions para maiparating po ang true state of the sector ng transportasyon which basically is saying tuloy po dapat ang programa."

Last week, senators said they will move to suspend the controversial Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program saying there seems to have been a lack of planning and a rush to implement it.

During the hearing of the Committee on Public Services, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said he will file a resolution for the suspension of the program, which is the subject of a petition at the Supreme Court.

"Susuporta naman po ako ng mga kasamahan ko sa Senado, sa majority and even the Senate president, then so be it. Suspendido muna," panel chair Tulfo declared. 

"Talagang minadali po ito."

(My colleagues here in the Senate will support me, the majority and even the Senate president, then so be it. Suspended for the meantime. They really rushed this.)

A Senate resolution, if adopted, expresses the sense or sentiment of the chamber. It is not binding on the executive branch but can and has been used to send a message of support for or objection to a policy. -- with a report from Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News

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