MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — A majority of senators on Tuesday sought to suspend the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). 

Twenty-two senators backed a resolution seeking to suspend the program and iron out the "valid and urgent concerns" of various stakeholders such as affected drivers and unions.

The PUVMP requires jeepney operators to consolidate their franchises under a transport cooperative. But small operators do not want to lose individual ownership of units.

Senate Resolution 1096 noted that 36,217 PUV units or around 19 percent of PUVs and other vehicles had not yet consolidated as of the April 30, 2024 deadline.

The resolution said this was due to the insufficiency of the government’s information drive to educate drivers, operators, and transport groups about the program as well as the "burden of financing the cost of modern PUVs, which greatly exceeds the financial capacity of drivers and operators."

"These small stakeholders, particularly the drivers, who remain unconsolidated, are effectively forced out of their livelihoods with most of them expressing that the only skill they have is driving," the resolution said.

"Those who did not participate in the consolidation are now considered as colorum or operating illegally and run the risk of being fined and their vehicles impounded should the drivers continue to ply their routes."

The resolution noted that only 174 or 11.05 percent of 1,574 local government units have approved their Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP). The deadline to fully comply with the complete LPTRs is up to 2026.

SC urged to halt PUV modernization program as apprehension looms

It also questioned the potential phaseout of the "iconic jeepney design in favor of the so-called modern jeepneys which are merely mini-buses imported from other countries."

DOTr says Filipino transport groups 'supportive' of PUV modernization program

Adopted resolutions express the sense, or position, of a chamber but are not binding on the executive branch.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo said during the July 23 Senate hearing of the Committee on Public Services, which he chairs, that the modernization program was unplanned and rushed.

"There is an urgent need to thoroughly review and reassess the impact of the program, to alleviate the fears of the drivers and transport operators who will be directly burdened by its implementation," the resolution read.

"Continuing with the program without threshing out these concerns, would go against the Constitutional directive of promoting social justice in all phases of national development," it added. 

PROTESTS 'SHAKE EVEN THE SENATE'

Transport group PISTON, which has staged protests against the modernization plan, said the latest development was "irrefutable proof that the people's collective power can shake even the Senate."

"We continue to call for the complete junking of the modernization program," the group said in a statement, adding that more protests and strikes would likely follow should the Marcos administration "continue to turn a deaf ear to this clamor."

Seven transport groups, known as the Magnificent 7, and other allied organizations supporting the government's jeepney modernization recently threatened to launch a nationwide transport strike if the Senate releases its resolution suspending the implementation of the program.

Those who authored Senate Resolution No. 1096, along with Tulfo, included Senate President Francis Escudero, Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, and Senators Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, and Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri.

Of the 23 senators, only Senator Risa Hontiveros did not sign. Her office has not yet issued a statement regarding this. Senator Robinhood Padilla signed the resolution but with reservation. No reason has been given yet.

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