DOTr, LTFRB pinagpapasa ng assessment report

Pinagsusumite ng joint assessment report ang Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ng technical working group (TWG) panel ng House Committee on Transportation, hinggil sa isang taon nang public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) ng pamahalaan.

Iniutos ng TWG panel, na pinamumunuanni ANGKLA partylist Rep. Jesulito Manalo, na magsumite ang DoTr at LTFRB ng ulat para sa isang “honest-togoodness” evaluation para sa unang taon ng pagpapatupad ng the modernization program, matapos ang mosyon mula kay Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation.

“Could you please submit us a report on your modernisation plan. How far you’ve gone when you launched this in June 2017. Please assess the implementation and be candid, kaya pa ba nating i-implement yan at ano naging mga problema,” saad ni Sarmiento.

Hiniling ni Manalo na ipasa ang report limang araw matapos ang konsultasyon ng ahenyisa kasama ang mga stakeholders.

“They cannot give assessment. Ano bang nangyari na, marami na ba natapos na route rationalization? They should be candid enough in saying na baka mahirapan kami matapos ang PUV modernization,” ani Sarmiento.

Sa position paper na isinumite ni LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III sa Manalo panel, ipinaliwanag nito na ang PUVMP ay “not merely a vehicle modernization program but a comprehensive system reform” na nagbibigay ng bagong panuntunan para sa pagkuha ng prangkisa sa mga public transport services.

“Among its features is the devolution of the function of route planning to the local government units as they are more versed in the terrain and passenger demand and behavior within their respective territorial jurisdictions, “iginiit ni Delgra.

“The PUVMP also encourages industry consolidation or the strategic merging of smaller transport industry players to form into a consortium either by forming cooperatives or corporations to gain more access to better funding and other benefits,” paliwanag pa niya.