Philippines
National
SC asked to reconsider dismissal of petition vs vehicle modernization program
SC asked to reconsider dismissal of petition vs vehicle modernization program
A group of jeepney drivers and operators asked the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, March 19, to reconsider the ruling that denied its petition against the implementation of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The petition filed by Bayyo Association, Inc. had earlier been dismissed by the SC for lack of legal standing to file a case and for violating the hierarchy of courts.
In dismissing Bayyo’s petition, the SC ruled: “The Court finds that the petitioners (Bayyo) do not possess the requisite legal standing to file this suit. At the outset, Bayyo did not submit any proof to support its claim that it is a legitimate association of PUJ (public utility jeepney) operators and drivers. While it attached a Certificate of Registration issued by the SEC, the same merely proves its registration as an association, but does not establish that its members are indeed PUJ operators and drivers.”
It also said that the issues raised by Bayyo can best be settled before the lower courts as the SC is not a trier of facts.
The SC’s full court ruling on Bayyo’s petition was written by Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh.
In its motion for reconsideration, Bayyo told the SC that its members are legitimate operators and drivers who stand to suffer due to the PUVMP.
It said that its amended By-laws is still being processed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It assured that it would submit the same and other necessary documents within 10 days.
“Petitioners invoke the application of a more liberal approach to legal standing, acknowledging the profound implications of the PUVMP on their livelihood, economic stability, and ability to continue their operations under new regulatory requirements,” the group said.
The group also said: “We will be faced with daunting prospect of significant debt from mandatory vehicle upgrades. With loans potentially reaching up to P2 million, members of the Bayyo Association are at risk of financial peril.”
At the same time, Bayyo said that “direct resort to this Court is justified since what is at issue is the constitutionality of a Department Order which affects people’s Constitutional rights to due process and equal protection, particularly the right to pursue a lawful calling and profession and the right to earn a living among other important issues prejudicial to the well-being of thousands of drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys and their families.”
Still pending before the SC is the petition against PUVMP filed by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), a representative of a commuters’ group, and several individuals. PISTON is a group of jeepney drivers and operators.
The SC had acted on PISTON’s petition but it did not issue an order that could have stopped the implementation of PUVMP that was originally set on Jan 1, 2024. Instead, the SC directed Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo E. Guadiz III to file their comments.
President Marcos had earlier ordered the extension of the consolidation of jeepney franchises into cooperatives or corporations under PUVMP until April 30, 2024.