Sen. Grace Poe (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
听
On Transportation Secretary听Arthur听Tugade鈥檚 request, the Senate听committee on public services听has decided to reset its hearing on听the government鈥檚听jeepney modernization program to Monday (December 11) next week.
The committee, chaired by Senator听Grace Poe, was set to听hold the hearing听this Thursday听to listen to transport groups鈥� opposition to the modernization scheme.
鈥淣akiusap si Secretary Tugade kung pwede iurong ang hearing natin sa Lunes. Sinabi naman nya na magpapadala sana sya kung Thursday听 matutuloy ang hearing ng mga undersecretaries nya,鈥� Poe said.
鈥淧ero ako na mismo ang nag-decision at aapela ako dun sa Piston听at sa ibang group na sa tingin ko naman ang layunin nila ay makaharap miso si Secretary Tugade.鈥�
鈥淜aya ako na听 mismo ang nag-decision na听 kung Lunes听sya available,hindi ko sya pinakawalan e, sabi ko bigyan nyo ako ng petsa kung听 hindi kayo pwede ng Thursday, sabi nya Lunes daw available sya. Kaya itututoy natin ang public hearing鈥�,鈥� Poe听added.
On the senator鈥檚 promise听that the committee would conduct the hearing听 on Thursday,听 the听 No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition led by Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) decided to cancel听 the jeepney strike听 slated听 this Monday and Tuesday.
READ: 听Jeepney strike cancelled by protest leaders
During Monday鈥檚 hearing听of the congressional oversight committee on Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, which was also presided over by Poe, the senator reminded听Tugade听about the听separate hearing this Thursday on the planned听jeepney phase out.
鈥淜asi Ma鈥檃m talagang meron ho akong mga signing ng mga agreement tungkol ho dun sa MRT (Metro Rail Transit),鈥� he said.
Besides, he said, he only learned听about the听invitation to attend the hearing on Thursday through the media.听听听听听听听听听听听 /kga