Palace: Jeepneys to be modernized, not phased out

Malacañang clarified that the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) will not phase out jeepneys, but will instead modernize the country’s iconic mode of transportation.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar made the clarification after transport groups claimed that the PUVMP is anti-poor.

Andanar, in an interview over Radyo Pilipinas, also eased the worry of commuters that jeepneys will be eased out of roads.

Jeepney upgrade “It is not the phaseout of the jeepney per se, the jeepney as a vehicle, as the concept of a commuter vehicle. It is the phaseout of the old models,” he said.

“Mananatili po ‘yung jeepney, ‘yung jeepney na konsepto na sinasakyan po natin. Papalitan lang ho ng mas bago (The jeepneys, as a concept, are here to stay. We will just replace them with new ones),” he added.

Andanar also said that the government will push through with the plan to modernize the jeepneys.

“‘Yun po ang sinabi ng ating mahal na Pangulo. ‘Yun po ang polisiya ng gobyerno. ‘Yan po ang polisiya na ibinigay sa ating Pangulo ng Department of Transportation (That is what the President said. That is the government’s policy),” he said.

Drivers’, commuters’ welfare “It’s just the model that we are phasing out because we believe, the government believes that the riding public deserves better, more energy-efficient and less pollutant jeepneys plying the streets of Metro Manila,” he added.

On Thursday, Malacañang assured Filipino jeepney drivers that this initiative of the government to improve the public transport sector will not put them out of business.

“It was not designed to phase out jeepneys. In fact, the program aims to strengthen and guarantee the profitability of the jeepney business,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.

Support systems Roque explained that the DOTr, along with other government agencies, are exhausting all efforts not only to improve the transportation facilities through the program, but also to ensure the PUV drivers that their concerns are adequately addressed.

Among these efforts is the provision of a financing scheme for acquisition of new units available through the Development Bank of the Philippines’ Support Alternative Driving Approaches Program and Landbank of the Philippines’ Special Environment-Friendly and Efficiently Driven Jeepney Program.

The Department of Finance (DOF) is offering a five-percent equity, sixpercent interest rate, and a repayment period as long as seven years financing package on top of the 180,000 subsidy per unit to cover the equity payment.

In addition, there is zero or low maintenance cost of new units in the first 3 years, which translates to savings.