There will be no transport crisis next year.
This was the assurance given by Jesus Ferdinand Ortega, chairperson of the Department of Transportation's (DOTr)-Office of Transportation Cooperatives, amid the transport strikes being conducted by transport groups opposing the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
“Definitely, there will be no transport crisis. Transport concerns from December to January tututukan natin iyan (we will focus on those) because definitely may mga (there are) concerns that will happen,” he said during a televised media briefing on Friday, Dec. 15.
“But LTFRB has looked at those places, has looked and checked on the routes na posibleng magkaroon ng (that can possibly have) concern and we will address that,” he added.
According to Ortega, major transport groups are prepared to assist in areas wherein only few drivers and operators consolidated.
“Kasi, handang-handa ang malaking majority ng transportation sector to come in and help on the places na hindi nagko-consolidate. So, definitely, kapag nagtulungan ang gobyerno and the transport sector, the concerns in few routes will be addressed (Because, the large majority of the transportation sector is ready to come in and help on the places that are not consolidating. So, definitely, when the government and the transport sector work together, the concerns in few routes will be addressed),” he said.
The official of the transportation department stated that 70 percent of all operators in the country have already consolidated for the PUVMP.
“[P]er study, ang pinaka, ‘ika nga eh, objective lang really, malagpasan lang natin ang 65, attained na natin. So we are above or more than above the 65 percent, nag-70 percent na tayo nationwide (Per the study, our main objective really, is to surpass 65, and we've attained it. So we are above or more than above the 65 percent, we have reached 70 percent nationwide),” said Ortega.
In Metro Manila, he said that less than 30 percent of the operators consolidated which is why the agency is now focusing on addressing the concerns of drivers and operators in the metropolis.
“Unang-una, dito sa Metro Manila, iyong mga maliliit na ruta, maiiksing ruta, iyon ang mga hindi nagko-consolidate (First of all, here in Metro Manila, those small routes, short routes, those are the ones that did not consolidate yet),” he said.
“But iyong mga major roads, iyong mga malalawak, mararaming pasahero, consolidated na iyon (But those major roads, with many passengers, are already consolidated).”