Senate hearing on jeep modernization moved next week

FILE: The Senate hearing on the concerns of jeepney drivers and operators group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) on the government’s jeepney modernization program has been moved from Thursday (Dec. 7) to Monday (Dec. 11) next week. (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

MANILA — The Senate hearing on the concerns of jeepney drivers and operators group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) on the government’s jeepney modernization program has been moved from Thursday (Dec. 7) to Monday (Dec. 11) next week.

Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, said this was to allow Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade to attend the hearing as he could not make it on Thursday.

Poe said that Tugade would be willing to send representatives if the hearing would push through Thursday but the senator said that she really wanted him present.

She said she knew that PISTON wanted to speak with Tugade face to face.

“Their (Piston’s) goal is to speak to Secretary Tugade in person,” Poe told reporters in an interview.

Poe called for this hearing after PISTON threatened to hold a nationwide transport strike on Monday and Tuesday (Dec 4-5). Heeding Poe’s call, PISTON decided to call it off.

Last week, transport groups PISTON and No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition said they would stage another protest action against the government’s jeepney modernization program.

Under the program, jeepney units that are 15 years old or older will be replaced with Euro 4 engines or electrically-powered engines with solar panels for roofs.

These will also be equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, a GPS navigation system, an Automatic Fare Collection System, speed limiters, dashboard cameras, and Wi-Fi.