Our “hero” jeepney drivers as well as local manufacturers must be the first to benefit from the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program, and the government must make sure of this.
Senator Robin Padilla stressed this at the Senate Committee on Public Service’s hearing on bills for the PUV modernization program and the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.
“Sana suportahan po natin ang lokal nating gumagawa, bago natin bigyang importansya ang ating dayuhan katulad ng kilala na, bihasa na.”
“Hindi kami kontra sa modernization. Walang taga-gobyerno ang kokontra sa modernization. ‘Yun lamang po, ‘yun lang sana suportahan po natin ang lokal nating gumagawa, bago natin bigyang importansya ang ating dayuhan katulad ng kilala na, bihasa na,” Padilla said.
“Sa huli’t-huli, hindi natin kailanman lilimutin ang ating layuning bigyang proteksyon higit sa sinuman, ang ating mga maliliit na drivers,” the legislator added.
The lawmaker pointed out jeepney drivers continue to play a major role in public transport, with a big chunk of students and workers not being able to get to school or work without riding jeepneys.
The senator added communities would be paralyzed when PUV drivers – who he referred to as “heroes” – would hold jeepney strikes.
Also, he noted that while the PUV Modernization Program aimed to benefit jeepney drivers and passengers by providing for modern jeepneys when it was launched in 2017, many problems have surfaced during its implementation.
“Kailangan natin pakinggan ang ating mga bayaning jeepney drivers.”
“Sa panahon po na tila mas marami ang dumadaing, umaaray, sa isinusulong na programa po ng ating pamahalaan, hindi po tayo maaaring magbingi-bingihan, bilang tayo po ay public official, tayo ay nag-oath na pangangalagaan natin ang ating taumbayan, kailangan natin pakinggan ang ating mga bayaning jeepney drivers,” Padilla concluded.
