A MAJOR transport organization in the province slammed the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, which they believe the government is pushing through despite the crisis amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic that greatly affected the transport sector.
Diego Malacad, secretary general of United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc), said the program is designed by the government through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to kill the drivers and the operators as well.
"It is a monopoly of Euro 4 vehicles made in China," Malacad said.
He said that last year, an actual road test was done in the province of the model vehicles and they have proven "that it is not durable and could not stand on the terrain in the country."
Malacad said the vehicle encountered trouble for several times going to Negros Oriental during the road test.
Malacad also claims that existing private proprietors of public jeepneys could no longer acquire the Euro 4 vehicle because it is stated in the guidelines that acquisition and ownership shall be for cooperatives only and that it is the cooperative that will also run the business.
At present, he said each Euro 4 vehicle is sold at more than P2 million per unit.
"Drivers will be displaced. It's a monopoly because all the PUVs will be uniform as it will be sold by accredited dealers only," Malacad added.
Drivers of PUVs have been complaining that they cannot go full swing operation because of the health protocols imposed on them especially on social and physical distancing. Passengers are also meager because senior citizens and minors are not yet allowed inside the malls and other establishments.
Malacad said under the modernization program, a card will be issued to passengers like in other countries which until this time, the government has not yet issued.
"We are not ready but the DOTr seems so excited to implement the program to phase out the existing PUVs," Malacad added.
In Manila, Infrawatch PH has also slammed DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade for allegedly pushing the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program even as jeepney drivers face income uncertainties in the wake of the lockdown.
The group called Tugade's insistence on jeepney modernization as "callous and tonedeaf leadership from the country's transport chief."
Aside from public safety, DOTr came up with the PUVMP to solve the traffic problem in the country especially in Metro Manila.