Amid the ongoing discussions on the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), the head of Francisco Motors Corporation, one of the biggest and longest manufacturers of jeepneys bared on Friday, June 21, that they were not consulted in the creation of the national standard for the modern jeep.
Elmer Francisco, Chairman and CEO of Francisco Motors Corporation stated during the hearing of the Committee on Public Services presided by Sen. Raffy Tulfo that the Department of Trade and Industry consulted with bus manufacturers to create the Philippine National Standard (PNS) for Public Utility Vehicles.
"Hindi kami kinonsulta, ang kinonsulta ng DTI para gawin yung Philippine National Standard sa manufacturers ay yung mga manufacturer ng bus sa ibang bansa (We were not consulted, to create the Philippine National Standard for manufacturers, the DTI consulted with bus manufacturers from other countries)," Francisco said.
"So paano mo i-momodernize yung jeep kung kokonsultahin mo mga foreign manufacturers ng bus? Di ba, parang walang koneksyon? Ang maiiwan sa'tin atin yung pagtataka na baka may connivance dito, yun yung problema (So how will you modernize the jeepneys if you will consult with foreign bus manufacturers? There's no connection, right? We were left with confusion and the idea that maybe there was connivance, and that's the problem)," he added.
Francisco said that they only found out about it after they saw it on television. He said that Sarao Motors was only consulted for a while but was then left out.
The current PNS for the modern jeepney is a product of DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) work together with the Truck Manufacturer’s Association (TMA).
Among those included in it is the class-specific requirements as well as the provision that it must be powered by a Euro-4 emissions-compliant (or better) engine or electric motor powered by onboard batteries.
But Francisco said that Euro-4 engines are already obsolete in other countries.
However, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Teofilo Guadiz III said that this is the standard set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and they merely adopted it when the program was initiated. Tulfo asked that the DENR be invited to the next hearing.
Meanwhile, DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Andy Ortega said that there were local manufacturers and builders present when the PNS was formulated in 2017.
Tulfo told Ortega that the DOTr should consult first local manufacturers before going to the foreign companies.
"Stop consulting with these people especially from China. Local manufacturers natin capable sila...sana binibigyan natin sila ng respeto (Our local manufacturers are capable...let's give them respect). So I don't want to hear from now on na kapag mayroon tayong programa tungkol sa mass transportation, ang una nating kinokunsulta natin yung mga taga-abroad (that when there's a program on mass transportation, we consult first those in abroad)," he said.
"Pag sinabi ng mga local manufacturers natin na 'hindi namin kaya yan' saka palang natin ipapasa or ikokonsulta sa labas ng bansa (If the local manufacturers tell you that 'we cannot do it' only then will we consult from outside the country)," he added.
Route plans
Sen. Grace Poe, who formerly handled the Senate Public Services Committee as well as hearings on the PUVMP, said that the DOTr should prioritize the completion of the route plans before reducing the PUV units.
To better control the number of vehicles plying a particular route, the government is instituting a ‘one route, one franchise policy.’
The government is already in talks with several LGUs to scrutinize the current routes, develop new routes if necessary, and streamline any of the current ones.
Tulfo also expressed his concern about the LGUs' participation in creating routes as it may be used for personal gain. He wants the DOTr and the LTFRB with the help of the operators to be in charge of drawing up the routes.
"Huwag po talaga sa LGU andami ko na po talagang experience diyan through the years...ginagawang negosyo ni mayor, ni councilor, ni vice mayor, yung rota binibigay sa kamag-anakan (Don't give it to the LGU because I have lot of experience there through the years...it becomes a business by the mayor, the councilor, the vice mayor, the route is given to relatives)," Tulfo said.
Guadiz said that the final say will still be with them but they need to tie up with the LGUs since they know the area more.