Senator Grace Poe on Monday, August 5 told the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation and Franchise Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to stop pitting groups and instead review the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Poe made the call after some drivers and operators who have complied with the government’s PUVMP conducted a unity walk to protest the Senate resolution recommending the suspension of the program. 

“The tactic of pitting groups against each other is anti-cooperatives. The program masterminds should stop terrorizing drivers with franchise revocation and arbitrary deadlines, and now with loss of investment if the program is reviewed,” Poe said in a statement.

“Spreading baseless fears to excuse the program's flaws is classic division tactic that should not stop the government from doing a proper review,” she pointed out. 

For Poe, former head of the Senate public services, said it is evident that the instigators of the PUVMP now fear losing money especially if the resolution is approved. 

“This is exactly the problem with the program. Those who planned to phase them out had previously threatened them if they did not comply,” she noted. 

“Now, they fear that they will lose money if they cannot convince their colleagues in the sector to modernize,” she said. 

“We respect the right of the transport groups to express their position on the issue. Pero ang pagpapatigil ng PUVMP para marebisa ay napapanahon para maging husto at makatao ang programa (But the suspension of the PUVMP for revision is timely for the program to be effective and humane),” Poe explained. 

Despite being introduced seven years ago, the senator reiterated that the DOTr still has no clear plans yet on lowering the cost of modern units and shifting support from importers to local manufacturers.

“Sa mismong local route plans, 11% or 174 sa 1,574 LGUs palang ang approved ng LTFRB (On the local route plans itself, only 11 percent or 174 out of 1574 local government units were approved by the LTFRB),” she noted. 

That is why, the lawmaker said the Senate is pushing the government to put the program on hold to pave the way for a proper review and also address the issues raised by all transport groups. 

“Ang panawagan namin sa DOTr: walang deadline hangga't hindi niyo naayos ang programa (Our call to the DOTr: there’s no deadline until you fix the program),” she stressed.

“Establish a well-studied program based on local routes with the needed funding requirements and a reasonable timeline. Modernize with a plan, not with fears,” Poe appealed.