Marcos to decide on Senate's call to suspend PUV modernization

[Mike J]

The seemingly never ending battle to modernize the jeepney fleet.  I know it will  help the environment but I will miss seeing those colorful vehicles if they are completely banned.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/08/01/2374653/marcos-decide-senates-call-suspend-puv-modernization

MANILA, Philippines — It is up to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to decide whether to heed the Senate resolution urging the suspension of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

A total of 22 senators signed a resolution urging for the suspension of the PUVMP until the concerns of stakeholders are addressed. The long-delayed PUVMP, initially introduced during former president Rodrigo Duterte's administration, faced protests from the transport sector.

Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand Ortega, who heads the Department of Transportation's cooperatives office, said the department has already assured the Senate that the PUVMP is being implemented properly. When asked about the DOTr’s position on the program following the resolution, Ortega said it would continue.

“Our president will make the decision regarding that resolution,” Ortega said on GMA’s "Unang Balita."

“We will say that it continues because that's the order of the president, that's the order of the [transportation] secretary. We have to pursue this program because we know we can improve what we have been doing for the past year,” Ortega said in mixed Filipino and English.

Ortega also defended the DOTr after the Senate criticized the lack of sufficient information dissemination among operators and drivers. He said dialogue has been ongoing since last year and that there has been a high rate of consolidation.

While waiting for Marcos’ response, however, Ortega said the PUVMP would proceed despite the Senate's call for its suspension.

Marcos has already extended the deadline for the consolidation of jeepneys, an integral part of the PUVMP, into cooperatives.

 

[Tommy T.]

I really don't have any issues with jeepneys. What I do have issues with are the jeepney drivers. Here in Davao, they tend to be a bit reckless and unpredictable in their driving. As we have all noted before, their tendencies to stop in the middle of the road to on or offload passengers, then repeating the same maneuver 20 meters down the road. They cause massive traffic jams here that even the CTTMO boys struggle to clear. 

[Clermont]

2 hours ago, Mike J said:

I know it will  help the environment but I will miss seeing those colorful vehicles if they are completely banned.

I’ve written on this before, if they went through the jeepnies and made them plus all road vehicles roadworthy and make sure there licensed properly there wouldn’t be a problem, but we know the type of people that enforce the problem. Just have a look at the tyres on the semi trailers now, very few with steel showing through the surface. 

[craftbeerlover]

2 hours ago, Tommy T. said:

I really don't have any issues with jeepneys. What I do have issues with are the jeepney drivers. Here in Davao, they tend to be a bit reckless and unpredictable in their driving. As we have all noted before, their tendencies to stop in the middle of the road to on or offload passengers, then repeating the same maneuver 20 meters down the road. They cause massive traffic jams here that even the CTTMO boys struggle to clear. 

The drivers are the same all over the Philippines.   I think they should be gone with them, they are a sight for sore eyes, a traffic nightmare, an in environmental disaster, drivers are horrible, etc.  There would be a couple of years of pain, but in the long run, it would be good for the Philippines. 

[Tommy T.]

20 minutes ago, craftbeerlover said:

The drivers are the same all over the Philippines.   I think they should be gone with them, they are a sight for sore eyes, a traffic nightmare, an in environmental disaster, drivers are horrible, etc.  There would be a couple of years of pain, but in the long run, it would be good for the Philippines. 

Yup.

 

[Freebie]

I live near a road that has frequent jeepneys on it. I live on 15th floor. so aside from the noise these beasts make they use the cheapest crappest type of diesel. Once a week I sweep my balcony and theres always a film full of black dust.This is the shit that comes from jeepney exhaust. This is what everyone at ground level is breathing. This is what circulates in their. Anfd yet the senators, bless them in their pristine properties far from any jeepney routes want to eep these polluting machines. Sad.

[Jack Peterson]

16 minutes ago, Freebie said:

And yet the senators, bless them in their pristine properties far from any jeepney routes want to keep these polluting machines. Sad.

 Maybe it is what the local people want, Having Lobbied their Local senator ( as many would do at home) the senate listened  We have all lost something many years later we wished we still Had, Steam trains for instance, Dirty but Brilliant and I daresay much missed be many 

[Lee]

Have recent experience with jeepneys in Manila.

About 6AM one Sunday morning, I counted 31 jeepneys that passed my hotel on Del Pilar St. (Ermita) in just over 10 minutes. Most were full or close to it. 

The jeepneys were as loud and obnoxious as ever but obviously there is a need for them. 

So what do you replace them with----Chinese crap costing a million pesos a pop? IDK.

Couldn't the obscene amount of noise that they make be toned down with better exhaust system? Semi trucks in the US don't make near as much noise.

[Possum]

35 minutes ago, Lee said:

Couldn't the obscene amount of noise that they make be toned down with better exhaust system?

The noise is a feature. Of course if they had to actually pass an emissions test they would fail but...

Over the years I have been close to 3 jeepneys when their bald tires blew, sought cover. Point being that if the jeepneys were required to meet the existing regulations they would have modernized years ago.

[hk blues]

Before I drove I used to use jeepneys a lot and appreciated them - now I drive I am less appreciative!

Make of that what you will.