Senator Grace Poe prodded government听officials听and various听transport听leaders 鈥渢o move a little, give a little鈥� as they听faced听each other in a Senate hearing听on Monday to tackle the proposed jeepney modernization program.
As promised,听Poe, as chair of the Senate听committee on public services,听called the hearing to listen听to all parties听involved in the implementation of the听modernization program and those who would be affected听by it like the transport operators and leaders.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, along with听other transportation officials, and transport groups led by听Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) president George听San Mateo attended the hearing.
鈥淚 know that many of you have come here today raring to argue your case passionately.听But this hearing is not in aid of publicity, but in search for the solutions we all need,鈥澨齭he said in her opening statement.
By calling the hearing,听Poe said her听committee听was听trying to bring the issue from the streets to the negotiating table.
鈥淢any of you have tried to thresh this out in several forums, and apparently everyone is sticking to his guns. The result is the policy-equivalent of a classic traffic gridlock, like cars entangled in an intersection because no one would budge,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 may be wrong in my observation. But believe me, that is how the public perceives the situation to be. Wala kasing gusting magbigayan. Kaya as we go along, expect me to prod many of you to move a little, give a little, so we can unknot this mess,鈥澨齈oe added.
The senator also took听the opportunity听to thank听the听jeepney drivers and operators, who halted their听planned strike last听December 4 and 5 upon her request.
READ: Jeepney strike cancelled by protest leaders
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For his part, Tugade vowed not only听to 鈥渂end a little鈥� but to also 鈥渕ove faster a little bit more.鈥�
鈥淲e can听bend a little,听and move faster a little bit more,鈥澨齢e said, noting that his attendance in听the hearing听showed their readiness to dialogue听with the transport听sector.
Besides, Tugade pointed out听that the modernization program has a three-year 鈥渨indow鈥澨齮o discuss its implementation.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 /kga