Poe lauds DOTr for allowing unconsolidated jeepneys to be on roads again
Sen. Grace Poe. Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — “A step in the right direction.”
This was how Sen. Grace Poe described the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) recent announcement that unconsolidated jeepneys will be allowed on the roads again.
Poe, who previously served as the chairperson of the Senate panel on public services, said she hopes that the DOTr and concerned agencies will make it easy for jeepney drivers and operators to secure their franchises.
“Untangling the messy [Public Utility Vehicle] Modernization Program will have to begin with the recognition of our drivers’ right to earn a decent living and to be involved in meaningful opportunities for growth,” she said.
“Simultaneously, the route plans should be ready to ensure that all roads will have available transportation for our commuters,” she added.
READ: DOTr to let unconsolidated jeepneys to ply same routes again – Piston
Poe also said that she and other lawmakers want a transport system that is dignified, safe, and at par with global standards.
“Those on the driver’s seat must steer the modernization program in the right direction,” she added.
The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program seeks to transform traditional jeepneys and other public utility vehicles in the Philippines to address concerns on safety and environmental impact, among others.
In March 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said no driver would “lose their job and livelihood” under the PUV Modernization Program despite apprehension publicly aired by the transport sector.
READ: Marcos vows to ensure no one would lose jobs in PUV modernization
