THE Department of Transportation yesterday clarified that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was not being accused of any wrongdoing on the shortage of public transport vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said during the opening of the Commuter-Friendly PUV stops in Marikina City that the LTFRB was merely asked to provide data and identify existing challenges affecting public transport in the area.
Lopez explained that as the lead agency for all transport-related programs in the country, the DOTr must examine factors affecting implementation to improve services.
“This is not an accusation,” Lopez emphasized. “Kailangan po tayong magpaliwanag sabi ko kay Chair (Teofilo) Guadiz. Ito po ay hindi pang-aakusa, kailangan ko po ng datos, kailangan ko po malaman — tukuyin ang tunay na problema; may sapat ba kaming personnel?”
“May sapat ba kaming personal na kakayanan? Or parehong kulang kami? May sapat ba kaming special permits? May sapat ba kaming franchises na in-issue… Or may sapat po ba kaming kakayanan to monitor? Kailangan po naming tukuyin para mabigyan namin ng solusyon,” Lopez pointed out.
He noted that the LTFRB had already issued special permits on October 3 allowing additional vehicles to ply Commonwealth Avenue up to NIA Road.
Proof, he said, that “it can be done.”
For his part, LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III assured the public that the agency remains steadfast in pursuing the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) despite calls from some transport groups for his resignation.
“Definitely, it’s only the President who can tell me to resign or not, but for now, with 99.9% of the transport groups stating that they are supporting LTFRB and, of course, Secretary Lopez, there is no other way for us but to move forward, ituloy po natin ang modernisasyon ng ating mga PUJ po,” Chairman Guadiz said.
The LTFRB chair explained that the calls for his resignation came after two major transport groups were denied their requested routes, which already had existing public utility vehicles operating.
“Dalawa sa mga malalaking transport group po ang hindi napagbigyan sa mga hinihingi nilang ruta, tila po sila ay umaangal ngayon,” Guadiz said.
“Yung mga hinihingi po nilang mga ruta, may mga dumadaan na pong mga sasakyan doon. Ganoon ho ang nangyayari, sa sampung hiningi, siyam ang ibinigay, masama pa rin ho tayo,” he explained.
“But I can assure you that 99 percent sa buong Pilipinas na mga transport group ang nagpahiwatig na ng suporta sa LTFRB, sa modernization po natin,” Guadiz said.
Guadiz added that the agency remains committed to implementing reforms in the transport sector “guided by the overwhelming support of the majority.”
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