SENATE President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero, in a media briefing Monday, August 19, 2024, says he will ask the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to meet on the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Escudero made the announcement after meeting the leaders of the anti-PUVMP transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) and Manibela. The Senate chief last week met the pro-PUVMP transport group “Magnificent 7.”
Escudero said the LTFRB should not threaten with franchise cancellation jeepney drivers who refused to join the the consolidation program, pointing out that the authority to grant franchises was only delegated by Congress to the LTFRB.
He said most of the cooperatives that consolidated have already complained of losing money.
“After getting the data from PISTON and Manibela and the other transport groups last week I will be calling the DOTr, the LTFRB as well as the CDA on this matter because it appears that most, if not all, cooperatives that have consolidated in the name of modernization are losing and complaining already,” Escudero said (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
