Despite the pandemic, transport groups continued to protest the government's plan to phaseout traditional jeepneys under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), noting that the transport sector can be made "more sustainable without sacrificing the welfare of workers."

Several transport workers and church representatives led by Pagkakaisa ng Sambayanan sa Balic-Balic (PASAMBA) held a gathering over the weekend to appeal for the implementation of just and equitable transition plans in light of looming jeepney franchise cancellations at the end of the year.

"The jeepney is an important icon of Philippine culture and history that cannot be simply taken off our roads. More importantly, it is the sole source of living for thousands of drivers and operators across the country and their families," PASAMBA President Rick Galang said in a statement.

"Transportation workers were among the most hard-hit by the economic impacts of the pandemic, and now they face the threat of permanently losing their livelihoods without even being given a chance to recover," he added.

The groups including Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (JODA), Samahang Pinagkaisang Maralita sa Balic-Balic (SPMB-Federation), Samahan Ng Apektadong Pamilya sa Balic-Balic (SAPB), Ugnayang JODA at Simbahan ng Most Holy Trinity Parish, and the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) also kicked off a signature campaign during the program to halt the removal of traditional PUJs on the road.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier told operators and drivers of all modes of road transport including bus, taxi, UV Express, and jeepney to consolidate their fleets under the PUVMP until December 31, or their franchise will expire.

The deadline marks the end of the supposed three-year transition period of the program which was initiated in June 2017 to replace old and dilapidated PUVs with modern vehicles powered by clean electric engines and supported with safety features, as well as an automated fare collection system.

However, Galang said the conditions being imposed by the DOTr such as loaning of up to P2.5 million to avail modernized units are "beyond our capacity, as the earnings of jeepney workers had been barely able to cover basic needs even before the pandemic."

While the groups agreed that transport is a key sector in need of sustainable improvement, they also questioned the effectiveness of solutions being enforced by the PUVMP.

"What we cannot understand is the maltreatment unfairly being experienced by jeepney workers while the government keeps silent on the sustainability of private vehicle machinery and continued pollution by fossil fuel power plants in the country," PPC President Teresa Dela Cruz said.

"We hope that our appeals in the petition would be heard by our authorities and result in ways forward that are impactful in terms of reducing pollution while also being sensitive to circumstances of transport stakeholders,"  she added.

The groups pointed out that they are more than willing to work with the government in improving the sustainability and efficiency of the transport sector to cater to the needs of the public and of transport workers.

Various transports groups have been opposing the PUVMP which they tagged as an "anti-poor and anti-commuter" program.