Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to include public utility vehicles (PUV) drivers and operators in the government’s service contracting program.

Hontiveros said that while she supports a bigger budget for the LTFRB’s service contracting program, PUV drivers and operators who have not yet bought into the PUV modernization may find themselves discriminated.

“Sinusuportahan ko ang paglalagay ng malaking budget para sa service contracting program ng LTFRB. Pero inaalala ko na baka i-discriminate o hindi isali ang mga tsuper na hindi pa kabilang sa PUV modernization program ng gobyerno (I support a bigger budget for the LTFRB’s service contracting program, but I’m worried that they would not include drivers who have not yet complied with the PUV modernization),” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Service contracting should be for all. And not just for those who have already bought into the PUV modernization program. Wala dapat diskriminasyon sa operators at drivers at dapat siguruhing lahat ay may pagkakataong sumali sa service-contracting at libreng sakay program (There should be no discrimination on operators and drivers and they should make sure that eeryone has a chance to join in the service-contracting and free ride program),” she stressed.

Hontiveros pointed out at least 50 percent of jeepney and PUV operators who have so far not joined the program due to issues and problems confronted in its implementation.

The senator recalled that the DOTr, in a forum a few weeks ago held by the UP National Center for Transport Studies, has stated that the government now intends to make service contracting a central component of PUV modernization.

But Hontiveros, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming May 2022 elections, said this would mean pressuring those who are not yet part of the program to participate, even as there are indeed legitimate reasons why they can’t or won’t participate in the PUV modernization program.

She pointed out there some factors that may affect drivers and operators in complying with the modernization program. Among the problems facing PUV drivers and operators are the dramatic increase in the price of modern jeepneys and buses, as well as fuel products, while the number of daily riders and the number of people allowed is still at the minimum.

“Our drivers are deep in debt and their cooperatives naturally hesitate to take on more debt — which is unavoidable under the fleet replacement scheme. Hindi natin sila masisi kung hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin sila makausad (We can’t blame them if until now, they find it difficult to comply),” she said.

“There is too much uncertainty that casts doubt on the viability of the program as it was originally designed,” the senator also stated.

Hontiveros said the DOTr and the LTFRB should look into the proposal of transport groups for the government to shoulder the procurement of modern jeepneys and be the owner and have the vehicles leased to the cooperatives.

“Kailangang humanap ng solusyon na win-win para sa lahat (We should all look for a win-win solution for everyone),” the lawmaker appealed.

“Service contracting is a central part of international best practices — transport should be treated as a public service that government pays for so that public transportation will be safe, ubiquitous, convenient, affordable, and a source of stable incomes for our tireless transport workers,” she emphasized.