Transportation ‘could get disrupted’

CEBU, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista this week said suspending the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) at this stage of its implementation could disrupt services for many who depend on its benefits, while also wasting what the government has already invested.

This is what he said when he wrote a 101-page letter to Senate President Chiz Escudero last Monday, or days before 22 senators signed Sen. Raffy Tulfo’s Senate Resolution no. 1096.

Bautista said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is one with the Senate Committee on Public Services’ thrust of enhancing public welfare and that “continuing the PTMP “aligns with our common goal of benefiting the community and advancing public welfare.”

Bautista said the overall impact of the PTMP, since its inception in 1992, has been overwhelmingly positive.

DOTr had also been actively addressing some isolated issues through ongoing review and stakeholders’ consultations.

“We remain committed to refining the program to better meet the needs of our stakeholders,” Bautista said, stressing that suspending the PTMP this time is foreseen to disrupt services.

“Suspending PTMP at this stage of its implementation could disrupt services for many who depend on its benefits. This could undermine progress and damage relationships with stakeholders, particularly given that a significant percentage have already consolidated,” he added.

Aside from that, DOTr stressed that significant resources have already been invested in developing and implementing the PTMP.

In 2024 alone, the government appropriated P1.6 billion for the program, with a utilization rate at 53 percent of the total P7.5-billion budget from 2018 to 2024.

“Suspending the program now risks wasting these investments and incurring additional costs to reestablish similar initiatives in the future,” Bautista said.

As of April 30, 2024, there are 6,090 consolidated routes which is around 83.38 percent on its nationwide reach.

As of July 17, Philippine National Standards-compliant modern jeepneys/vehicles operating nationwide already numbered 11,165.

Around 80 modern PUV models had also been offered by 28 manufacturers/assemblers, of which 58 percent are locally assembled by 16 manufacturers.

A total of 42,352 beneficiaries received social support from the Program’s Tsuper Iskolar Program, while 10,867 beneficiaries benefitted from the EnTSUPERneur Program (livelihood package).

The Program’s last component – Vehicle Useful Life – establishes a long-term vehicle scrappage process, wherein government will purchase the old jeepney units from operators for a fixed and attractive price to help them finance the acquisition of new units.  — (FREEMAN)