A LAWMAKER has assured that there will be no phase-out of traditional jeepneys come December 31 this year.

“No less than Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista clarified that consolidation does not mean the end of the line for traditional jeepneys. The deadline set is for operators and drivers to either form or join cooperatives or incorporate themselves into collective juridical entities,” Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights-Philippine Taxi Drivers Association (DUMPER PTDA) Party-list Representative Claudine Diana Bautista-Lim stressed.

Bautista-Lim, who is the vice chairperson of the House Committee on Transportation, said that even the message of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is clear – that the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) needs to be “improved.”

“We in government are sensitive to the plight of the transport sector. We are after the welfare not only of operators and drivers of PUVs but the riding public as well. Contrary to misinformation, ‘consolidation’ does not equate to phasing out traditional jeepneys,” she further stressed.

Long before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extended the “consolidation” of traditional jeepneys to Dec. 31, 2023, DUMPER PTDA had been in constant contact with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and various transport groups to press for such extension.

As a matter of fact, she said her group has worked for the extension of the consolidation deadline five times since 2020.

Now that the deadline has been extended to the end of 2023, the lady solon said there is no more compelling reason for some transport groups to go on a “week-long transport strike” next week.

Bautista-Lim, at the same time, assured PUV operators and drivers that DUMPER PTDA will initiate projects to help and assist them in forming or joining cooperatives and transport corporations before the deadline.

“Initial discussions with DOTR were to set up one-stop-shops or conduct assistance caravans to streamline the consolidation process,” the lawmaker said.

She stressed that DUMPER PTDA had spoken to countless jeepney and PUV operators and drivers who shared their sentiments against the looming transport strike.

“Majority of PUV operators and drivers will not join the transport strike. Upon talking to some jeepney and UV groups, they expressed that ‘gusto lang po naming makabiyahe ng maayos para may pagkain kami. Ayaw naming sumali sa strike,’” Bautista-Lim further stressed.

“I agree with them, it’s a ‘lose-lose situation.’ In fact, as stated by the LTFRB, 94 percent of PUV operators and drivers around the country will not be joining the strike,” she added.

She said the majority of PUV operators and drivers support the PUVMP program, citing that in Davao Region alone, 24 cooperatives have signed a manifesto of support to the program.

The lawmaker also hailed operators and drivers who have already “consolidated” in line with the policy of the DOTr, stressing that the government will not renege on its promise to help them.

“We agree with President Bongbong Marcos and DOTr that its implementation needs more discussions, hence there will be Committee Hearing on Transportation in Congress next week. I am set to personally meet Secretary Bautista and other DOTr officials to discuss further how we can improve the PUVMP,” Bautista-Lim pointed out.

She added that she will have a separate meeting with Bautista to discuss proposals like purchasing locally-made modernized jeeps besides importation, offering longer financing terms, and increasing subsidies.

DUMPER PTDA has also relayed to the DOTr that it can provide “libreng sakay” in case the transport strike pushes through as planned.