By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Concerned about the plight of thousands of jeepney drivers and their families, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Friday called for a motu proprio congressional investigation into the corruption issues that reportedly hound the jeepney modernization program.
The Speaker from Leyte said he will call on the House Committee on Transportation chaired by Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop to investigate the reports received by his office indicating that corrupt practices may have influenced the conceptualization and planned implementation of the jeepney modernization program.
“The reports alleged that existing transport officials are in cahoots with previous officials in negotiating for the imported modern jeepney units that will replace the old units,” Romualdez noted.
The ruling Lakas-CMD president also appealed to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to conduct a complete review of the modernization program and extend the period of its implementation until measures aimed at protecting the jeepney drivers are set in place.
“As we embrace progress and innovation, it is imperative that we address the need for modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly transport systems. The jeepney modernization program is not just about upgrading vehicles; it’s a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate our urban transportation landscape, making it safer, more reliable, and in tune with sustainable practices,” Romualdez stressed.
He further observed that the iconic jeepneys have long been “a symbol of our nation’s vibrant culture and enduring spirit.”
“However, it is crucial to acknowledge that at the heart of this modernization are the jeepney drivers – the hardworking individuals who have been the backbone of our local transport industry for decades. Their welfare is our primordial concern. As we transition to modernized jeepneys, we recognize the challenges faced by drivers and operators,” Romualdez quipped.
However, Romualdez said affected drivers should be offered training programs to help them adapt to new technologies.
The House leader said providing fixed-income opportunities to drivers will also be explored to stabilize their income and help them plan and secure their financial futures more effectively.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Trying to diffuse a transportation crisis, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Thursday announced that it is allowing traditional jeepneys that fail to consolidate their franchises this month to ply select routes until Jan. 31, 2024.
The LTFRB board will determine these routes and said show cause order would be issued to non-consolidated drivers and operators during this period.
Several transport groups earlier warned of a possible transport crisis if thousands of traditional jeepneys are forced to stop plying the roads for failing to consolidate into cooperatives or join corporations.
Jeepney drivers and operators have argued that “modern jeepneys” are too expensive and will deprive single-unit operators of route franchises that will only benefit big corporations and transport cooperatives.
Authorities earlier warned traditional jeepneys could lose their permit to operate if they fail to consolidate individual franchises into a single franchise under a cooperative or corporation by Dec. 31, 2023, as part of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
The LTFRB, however, in its latest memorandum said non-consolidated individual jeepneys would be allowed to ply routes where less than 60 percent of units are consolidated.
(IAmigo/mnm)
Kinalap ni Benjie Cuaresma
NAGKAROON ng iba’t ibang reaksyon ang mga jeepney driver at isang opisyal ng Bagong Silang Cooperative hinggil sa Pantawid Pasada program ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng Public Transport Program.
Ayon sa jeepney drivers, iilan lamang sa kanila ang nakatanggap ng P6,500 na subsidiya mula sa gobyerno, at ito ang nagdulot ng pag-aalala sa kanilang hanay.
Ayon sa kanila, ang halagang P6,500 ay nakalaan lamang sa mga operator, at wala o kulang ang ayuda para sa mga driver.
Hindi lahat ng operator ay nagbibigay ng sapat na bahagi ng subsidiya sa kanilang mga driver, kahit na sila ang nagpapakahirap sa kalsada.
Binanggit din nila ang pagkakaiba ng P10,000 na subsidiya para sa mga bagong jeepney kumpara sa mga tradisyonal na jeepney. Inaasahan sana nila na magiging patas ang pamamahagi ng tulong pinansyal mula sa gobyerno.
Nakuha rin sa eksklusibong panayam ni Benj Cuaresma ng MNM ang mga opinyon ng mga indibidwal na nakatambay sa isang malaking jeepney terminal sa Bayan ng Novaliches, Quezon City.
(ai/mnm)