CEBU CITY – A group of transport operators here will hold a rally to oppose the planned suspension of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
At least 22 transport cooperatives will join the rally on Monday, August 5. The rally will start with a march from Osmeña Boulevard and will end at the office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Central Visayas on Gen. Echavez St. here.
In a press conference on Thursday, August 1, Ellen Maghanoy, chairperson of the Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives (FCTC) Allied Transport Cooperative, said at least 2,000 drivers, conductors, and their families will join the rally.
Maghanoy, chairperson of the two cooperatives, assured that the protest will not hamper public transportation as only drivers who are on day-off will join the rally.
Aside from the protest, the group will also submit a letter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Maghanoy said the letter will highlight the significant investments made by operators to comply with the modernization program that was previously called as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
The group said suspending the program will be detrimental to the transport groups which have availed of huge loans just to comply with the program.
Glenn Arcenas, chairman of the United Drivers and Operators Transport Cooperatives, said 50 of his 91 units are still on loan with each unit costing P2.7 million.
Arcenas said that he has a bank loan of P135 million that he has to pay after he complied with the requirements needed for the modernization program.
Twenty-two senators urged the government to temporarily suspend the program "pending the resolution of valid and urgent concerns raised by affected drivers, groups, unions, and transport cooperatives to ensure a more efficient and inclusive implementation of the PTMP."
The senators said there are continuing deficiencies of the PTMP which the Department of Transportation has yet to address.