TOP government officials led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Chelo Garafil met recently with various transport groups to discuss issues affecting the land transport sector, including the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program or PUVMP.
Leaders of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Pinagkaisahang Sangguniang Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association (PASANG-MASDA), Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), Stop & Go, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), and the National Federation of UV Express, Inc. (NAFUVEXI) were present during the meeting.
The transport groups, collectively called the “Magnificent 7 and the Mighty 1,” raised their concerns with Bersamin and at the same time expressed their full support to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the meeting that was held at Malacanang.
Bautista said Bersamin was “all ears” and very receptive to the concerns of the transport coalition and vowed to assist PUV drivers and operators.
“This meeting is a step forward to a better land transport sector. The transport groups raised their concerns and we assured them that the government will listen and act on these concerns,” Secretary Bautista said.
Also discussed during the dialogue was the difficulty of acquiring loans from government financial institutions such as the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) by transport cooperatives who want to modernize their PUVs.
The Executive Secretary, meanwhile, assured the groups that he will talk to the President and the CEOs of DBP and LBP, respectively, to address the issue, Bautista said.
The meeting also tackled bribery and corruption practices of traffic enforcers of local government units, which the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is expected to solve.
(PHOTO CREDIT: PCO Facebook page)