THE House committee on transportation deferred the implementation of the Omnibus Transportation Guidelines for the Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) Modernization Program supposed to start on July 19, Bacolod City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya said.
This will give way for the petition of transport groups, including those in Bacolod, opposing the move of the Department of Transportation to phase out PUJs that are on the road for 15 years.
Last June 5, Gasataya held a dialogue with the transport groups led by United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc) which was holding transport strike on that day. He assured them that he will facilitate and bring to Congress their petition.
The House committee on transportation chaired by Catanduanes Lone District Representative Cesar Sarmiento ruled that a Technical Working Group should be created so that further discussions and questions regarding the guidelines would be properly addressed.
“There is no definite schedule yet on when the implementation of the phase-out of dilapidated jeepneys would take effect,” Gasataya said.
Diego Malacad, secretary-general of Undoc, said that several drivers would be displaced once the phase-out is implemented and they are questioning the program offered by the government for jeepney operators to acquire Euro 4 vehicles.
Gasataya said some transport groups already submitted their position papers and he is expecting more to come.