DOTr hopes for passage of PUV modernization bill under 20th Congress

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: OLD AND NEW. A traditional jeepney and its modern, airconditioned counterpart await passengers at a transport terminal in Novaliches in Quezon City on Tuesday (Jan. 23, 2024). (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

MANILA – Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday expressed optimism that the 20th Congress would push for a measure institutionalizing the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

In a chance interview with Palace reporters, Dizon said he is willing to work with lawmakers to ensure the passage of the PUV Modernization Act.

Dizon said it is a “big deal” to institutionalize the PUVMP because there would be tax incentives and additional subsidies for PUV modernization.

“Wala pa tayong PUV Modernization Act (We don’t have the PUV Modernization Act yet),” he said.

“So, hopefully sa susunod na Kongreso, mapag-uusapan iyan nang masinsinan at makikipagtulungan tayo sa Kongreso para maipasa natin iyan (So, that’s a big thing. So, hopefully in the next Congress, we can discuss that in depth and we will work with Congress so that we can pass that).”

Dizon also thanked the lawmakers who expressed support for the PUV modernization bill.

Pending the passage of the measure, the DOTr would focus first on addressing the concerns over the PUVMP, he said.

“Sa ngayon, ang ginagawa natin is sinusubukan nating ayusin ang mga kitang-kita nating problema para sa PUV modernization (Right now, what we are doing is trying to fix the obvious problems we have for PUV modernization),” Dizon said.

The PUVMP has faced chronic delays since its introduction, primarily due to the steep cost of modern jeepneys ranging from PHP1.7 million to PHP3.3 million per unit.

Dizon earlier vowed to address the bottlenecks by holding a dialogue with transport stakeholders to ensure a fair transition.