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| A jeepney, a memento of American colonialism of the Philippines, drive through Jones Bridge, Manila. Photo by Dennis D. Estopace |
ROXAS MEETS LAND TRANSPORT STAKEHOLDERS: Assesses current situation to map out concrete plans for the sector
Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas told leaders of different PUV drivers’
and operators’ associations in the country that DOTC will continue with the
reforms in the land transport sector it started one year after he assumed
leadership.
In an informal lunch meeting
with the land transport stakeholders at the DOTC headquarters, Roxas said he
wanted to eliminate the ‘culture of patronage and corruption’ that has riddled
the transportation sector for years.
Among the transport groups that
attended the meeting were PISTON, PEJODAP, LTOP, PASANG MASDA, ALTODAP, ACTO,
PTAP, NCTU, and STOP & GO.
Roxas said there will be more
changes as he enters his second year as head of the department, and will find
the best ways, through the help of the PUV organizations, in ensuring success
of the projects the department had rolled out during the last 12 months.
One area is in the process of
issuing franchises. He said the department was headed towards the setting up of
an objective mechanism for the granting of franchises to eliminate corruption
and the elements of subjectivity, like the patronage system.
He reiterated that whenever
there would be available franchises or need to issue new franchises, these
would be bidded out so only the company or group that can give the best deal
for the government and the public can get it.
Soon the public will likewise
witness the institution of a new policy that transport franchises cannot be
arbitrarily sold and bought like any ordinary commodity in the market.
“Itong franchise, privilege
ito nagina-grant ng gobyerno, walang
kaibahan ito sa prangkisa sa radio, sa
TV, sa airline o kaya sa bapor, parehas lang yan,” Roxas said.
“Pag binigyan ka ng prangkisa, kailangan gampanan mo ang mga obligasyon
mong nakapaloob dito. Kapag hindi mo
ginampanan ‘yan, kailangan ibalik mo yan sa gobyerno, hindi mo pwedeng ibenta,”
he said.
Eco-friendly engines
ROXAS said DOTC continues to
search for the best alternative in converting diesel engines of jeepneys and
buses into more eco-friendly engines. He called on the land transport group to
work with DOTC and pitch in their ideas, talents and resources in bringing the
project to success.
“Pinagsusumikapan nating makakita ng tamang paraan upang magkaroon ng
alternatibo ng more eco-friendly engines to PUVs, either LPG or CNG. We have the energy and resources to do it but
we need your suggestions on how we can make it successful; if you any bright
ideas, we’ll listen to them so we can develop a viable CNG or LPG system,”
Roxas urged the land transport stakeholders.
Integrated Transport System
HE said the Integrated Transport
System will push through soon to better manage the traffic and the pollution by
limiting the provincial buses that ply through Metro Manila roads to three central
terminals located at the rims of the metropolis.
He said this project is on track
and the possible sites have been identified where to put up the terminals near
the North Luzon Expressway, near the South Luzon Expressway and near Cavite Expressway.
Local government color-coding schemes
DURING the open forum, Efren de
Luna, president of Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, also raised
their concern regarding an ordinance by the Dagupan City Council that sets a color-coding
scheme prohibiting jeepneys from operating for two days every week.
De Luna added that his group is
planning to file a formal complaint before the DOTC Action Center on the matter.
He said that a local ordinance cannot override policies set by national
government agencies like the routes and privileges specified for their jeepneys
by the LTFRB
Roxas said the DOTC legal team
would study and assess this issue once the department receives the formal
complaint.
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DOTC–
Department of Transportation and Communications
LTFRB– Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board