BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) fully support initiatives of this city under the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
BACOLOD City officials led by Mayor Albee Benitez (fourth from right) welcome Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon (third from right) during his visit to the Bacolod City Government Center on Friday, April 25. (Photo via Albee Benitez/FB)
DOTr officials led by Secretary Vince Dizon lauded the city government for its electric jeepney (e-jeep) initiatives during a visit here on Friday, April 25, and said that Bacolod can really be a model for the PUVMP.
“What we’ve seen in Bacolod is frankly something that’s very promising. Despite the problems and difficulties in the modernization program, the city has a clear vision,” Dizon said in a media interview after his meeting with city officials headed by Mayor Albee Benitez.
Dizon said that it is seldom to see a local government unit (LGU) as proactive and progressive like this city. “I think it shows the attitude of the stakeholders,” he added.
He admitted that there are a lot of problems in the modernization program and they are doing a comprehensive review. “The bottom line is that drivers and operators are having difficulty transitioning from traditional to modernized due to financial challenges,” he said.
"While we are doing and focusing on those that have already entered the program, that’s not the case in the majority of the cooperatives,” he said.
Dizon said that there is a need to open the discussion again to allow those who were left out and those who have not been approved yet into the program to still continue with their livelihood while protecting the routes of those that have already consolidated.
“We need to protect them, but it does not mean that unconsolidated jeepneys cannot operate. We still need to find a way for them to run their vehicles while they are transitioning to join the program,” he added. He noted that balance is essential but at the same time finding ways forward that will work for both parties.
Through the city’s initiative to transition to public transport modernization, Dizon said that they wanted to show that the PUVMP can really work if the right policies are in place and clearly studied carefully.
“We see a bright way moving forward and I hope the country can see this as a model for a successful modernization program,” he added.
Dizon met members of transport group who gathered at the Bacolod City Government Center to welcome him and relay their concerns.
Benitez said that they have presented solutions to Dizon for the city’s modernization program and the DOTr expressed full support to their plans.
He added that a team will be formed by the DOTr to coordinate with the city for the execution and implementation of their proposal.
Benitez said that the city’s proposals on the city’s public transport plans include reviewing the modernization program framework, empowering LGUs to apprehend colorum vehicles, transitioning to electric vehicles, approving green routes, providing financing options for e-jeepney operators, and establishing electric vehicle charging stations across the city.
He said that Dizon was open to their proposals and recognized them for possible regulatory adjustments in the program’s implementation.
"We need to fasttrack policies and regulations because this is an experimental type of program,” he added.
This city has 605 modernized jeepneys and 1,200 traditional jeepneys with provisional authority. There are 3,731 registered PUVs here as of 2018.
Benitez said that the challenge is to determine the number of vehicles enough to accommodate the riding public here.
He said that they proposed to review the policies on consolidation under the PUVMP, considered a thorn in the modernization program. “I think based on our discussion, we will do away with the consolidation policy,” he added.
Benitez said that the only way to move forward is to look at the program from the economic point of view to make it practical and acceptable for the drivers. The only way to do that is to migrate to electric vehicles, he said.
At present, 10 e-jeepneys are operating in the city under the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CPMPC).