Skip to main content

Imee: Hold PUV modernization

By

 


By Bernardo B. Ver II (Contributor)

Senator Ma, Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos said that economic, logistical, and health considerations should prod the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to indefinitely put its public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program on hold and allow traditional jeepneys to resume operations.

Ms. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic reforms, said the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not only rendered most jeepney drivers jobless for the past seven months of community quarantine restrictions but has now made it impossible for them to afford modernized jeepneys with Euro-4 capability that cost PHP1.4 million to PHP2.2 million pesos each.

The DoTr’s subsidies of PHP80,000 to buy a modernized jeepney and an extra PHP5,000 for gas were clearly insufficient, Ms. Marcos pointed out.

The senator added that the short supply of modernized jeepneys for less than 5% of about 170,000 jeepney drivers, the lack of social welfare benefits for them, and the unfinished rerouting plans of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) made a clear case to postpone the jeepney modernization program.

"Instead of helping jeepney drivers amid the pandemic, the DoTr and LTFRB took advantage of the lockdown to push for the modernization program that, even before COVID-19, the poor drivers already could not afford,” Ms. Marcos noted during a meet-and-greet via Zoom attended by leaders of several Metro Manila transport groups.

“How could we turn a blind eye to jeepney drivers begging on the streets because their families have gone hungry and could no longer pay the bills for rent, water and electricity?” she added.

Traditional jeepneys also have an advantage over the enclosed and air-conditioned design of modernized jeepneys in reducing a commuter’s chances of catching COVID-19, Ms. Marcos pointed out, citing that doctors have recommended better ventilation in public utility vehicles.

As immediate aid to jeepney drivers out of work, Ms. Marcos donated sacks of rice to eight transport organizations including PASANG MASDA led by Obet Martin; FEJODAP led by Ricardo Rebano, ALTODAP led by Boy Vargas, LTOP led by Lando Marquez, STOP & GO Transport Coalition led by Juan Magno, ACTO led by Efren de Luna, as well as the Dapitan Drivers and Operators Jeepney Association and those plying the UP campus route.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By
By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...
14 comments
Read more

2020 Laoag City Traffic Code

By
  Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte CITY OF LAOAG   SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD   EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 58 TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE 11 TH SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF LAOAG HELD AT THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD SESSION HALL, LAOAG CITY ON OCTOBER 14, 2020. PRESENT: 1.        Hon. Vicentito M. Lazo                                                 City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer Hon. Juan Conrado A. Respicio II                                              S.P....
44 comments
Read more

Marcos town celebrates 3rd Pinakbet Festival

By
MARCOS, Ilocos Norte—Taking pride of this town ’s favorite Ilo cano dish, locally known as pinakbet, a mix of indigenous vegetables steamed in fish sauce, residents here ushered the opening of the third Pinakbet festival. “Pinakbet” came from the contracted Ilokano word ‘pinakebbet ’ which means “ shrunk ” or “shriveled.” As a way of thanksgiving, the Pinakbet festival is a repository of the town ’ s “ani” [harvest] festival being celebrated every month of March but this was later moved to December to accommodate more balikbayans wanting to join the festivity. Residents in this agricultural town derived most of their income from the harvest of high value crops, including rice, tobacco and corn as staple crops. This year, the week-long festivity highlighted a grand parade around the town plaza and a pinakbet cook fest at the municipal gymnasium to showcase the best pinakbet in town. A boodle fight followed suit. Earlier, a fun run was participated by various groups ...
Post a Comment
Read more