Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista on Monday appealed to transport groups who intend to stage a week-long transport strike to sit down and iron out the issues concerning the sector.
Bautista said both the government and these transport organizations should at least hold a dialogue to thoroughly examine each other’s positions regarding the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
“You know siguro dapat pag-isipan nating mabuti ‘yung pag-stop ng operations. Dapat mag-usap-usap muna. Let’s understand what the issues are kasi baka hindi tayo nagkakaintindihan,” the DOTr chief said in a quick reaction to the planned transport strike, beginning March 6.
Bautista proposed a dialogue between the stakeholders such as transport operators and representatives from the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“Ang problema yata ay hindi nagkaroon ng representatives ang DOTr doon sa mga discussions para ma-clarify kung anuman ‘yung mga issues,” Bautista said.
“So I have already instructed the Undersecretary for Road Sector to coordinate with the LTFRB and with the operators,” Bautista added.
Meanwhile, the DOTr chief clarified that they are giving ample time to transport groups to muster enough funds to buy new units for their operations in line with the government’s PUV modernization program.
Bautista pointed out that there would be no phase out of old PUV units in areas where groups could not acquire new units for their designated routes.
“Pero doon sa mga areas na alam naman natin talagang mahirap kaagad kumuha ng mga bagong equipment ay bibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ‘yung mga operators na mag-join muna doon sa mga cooperatives na mag-consolidate para matulungan din sila na makakuha ng mga bagong equipment,” Bautista pointed out.
The DOTr, he said, has been working closely with the Development Bank of the Philippines and with LandBank of the Philippines to help transport groups and cooperatives to finance the acquisition of modernized transport units.
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