New Transport chief seeks talks with Stakeholders on modernization plan
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has said the government would push through with the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), while guaranteeing the sustainability of the livelihood of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators.
“I’m not against modernization. No one is against modernization. We all want to modernize our transport system. That is what our President wants to do and do quickly,” Dizon said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“But there are implications and there are factors that everybody needs to consider in the transition from the current PUV system to a modern system and that is something that needs to be based on accurate information and accurate data—but I have not received this data yet,” he said.
Dizon said he would get a briefing on Friday from officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the implementer of the PTMP, and later hold a dialogue with stakeholders such as the jeepney drivers and operators.
‘Complicated’
“Admittedly, I don’t understand it that well. I need to understand all these issues before I can come to you and say: This, already, is our plan,” he said.
In an interview on Monday, Dizon noted that issues regarding the PTMP were “complicated” and did not simply involve the changing of vehicles.
“To me, the welfare of the drivers is a big issue. We have to make sure of the situation of the drivers because they might become more impoverished, which we won’t allow,” he said.
A lawmaker, meanwhile, welcomed Dizon’s statement that he was open to extending the operating hours of Metro Manila’s three rail transit systems.
Longer service hours
Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña had sought the extension until midnight of the service hours of the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 to make them available for commuting business process outsourcing personnel and other night shift workers.
The three light railways currently operate from 4:30 a.m. until around 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.
In May 2009, the MRT 3 started 24-hour operations only to go back to its former service hours due to low ridership at off-peak hours.
The move was also aimed at ensuring that the trains would run smoothly and efficiently. Effective maintenance of the system could not be otherwise performed if the MRT 3 continued to operate for 24 hours daily, railway authorities said. —WITH INQUIRER RESEARCH
