Coops urge Senate to pass transport modernization law

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Transport cooperatives are urging the Senate to pass legislation that would institutionalize the Public Transportation Modernization Program (PTMP), following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision not to suspend the program.

In a press conference on August 9, 2024, transport cooperatives in Iloilo City, including Cooperative-National Confederation of Cooperatives (Coop-NATCCO) Partylist Representative Felimon Espares, emphasized that enacting a law would address the existing issues surrounding the program.

Espares mentioned that three bills related to transportation modernization are currently pending in the Senate’s Committee on Transportation.

The most recent, House Bill 1332, which he filed in July 2022, aims to institutionalize the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program and has been pending in the committee since August 2022.

“We want our program to be more than just an executive order that can be changed with new leadership. If it becomes a republic act, it is permanent and can only be altered through amendments,” Espares said.

He added that institutionalizing the program would create a solid framework and gain additional support from other government agencies. Espares also commended the president for backing the continued implementation of the PTMP.

“The president has shown political will in implementing the program. Since its launch in 2017, there have already been seven suspensions and extensions for consolidation,” he noted.

Perfecto Yap, a board trustee of the Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI), also supported the passage of a law to ensure the comprehensive execution of the program.

“The modernization program has 10 components, and these components are distributed across various offices,” he said, emphasizing the need for a centralized project management office to oversee the PTMP’s success.

Yap pointed out that the dispersion of budget allocations and manpower issues across different offices has created significant implementation challenges.

“If there is a law, we would have an integrated approach to define proper coordination among the agencies,” he explained.

Meanwhile, WVATCCI chairman Rizal Alido said the alliance wants Iloilo to be a flagship area for the PTMP’s implementation, demonstrating that calls for its suspension are misguided.

“We are appealing to the Senate to pass a law for transport modernization,” he added.

Alido also called for increased budget allocations for the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to ensure effective implementation of the PTMP.

OPPOSITION

Meanwhile, transport group PISTON reiterated its call to scrap the PTMP following President Marcos Jr.’s refusal to support the Senate’s call for its suspension.

“Talagang walang pakialam si Marcos sa mga nalalantad na kapalpakan ng DOTr at LTFRB sa Senado at Kongreso,” said PISTON National President Mody Floranda.

Earlier, Senate President Chiz Escudero raised serious concerns that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is rushing to implement the PTMP without being fully prepared, casting doubt on the program’s viability.

“Isa lang ibig sabihin nito, iba ang motibasyon ni Marcos at ng DOTr sa pagpupumilit ng PTMP, at hindi ang ayusin ang sistema ng transportasyon,” Floranda added. “Kasi, kung nalantad nang palpak ang implementasyon, bakit mo pa itutuloy?”

According to PISTON, the driving force behind the government’s persistence with the PTMP is the involvement of large foreign businesses and opportunistic local transport leaders and corporations who have invested in the program in collaboration with the Marcos Jr. administration.

Floranda emphasized that PISTON’s call for scrapping the PTMP is not aimed at undermining the efforts of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators who have already joined the modernization program and have the means to upgrade their fleets.

“Ang panawagan lang namin ay ‘wag nang dumami pa ang pinsala sa kabuhayan at magkaroon ng patas na oportunidad para sa lahat, hindi lang sa mga mayayamang operator,” he concluded.