SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero advised the Department of Transportation to leave no one behind in its implementation of the Public Transport Modernization Program, particularly those who have depended on the operation of jeepneys as their source of livelihood for most of their lives.

Even if there are public utility vehicle drivers and operators who did not heed the DOTr’s requirement for them to consolidate into cooperatives or corporations by April 30, 2024, Escudero said the government should continue to reach out to these groups and not close the door on them completely.

“Sa gobyerno, wala tayong karapatan na mawalan ng pasensya. Keep your lines of communication open and find a middle ground that you can agree upon,” Escudero said during a meeting with officials of the DOTr, led by Secretary Jaime Bautista, on Tuesday.

Escudero relayed to DOTr officials the concerns raised by transport groups PISTON and Manibela on the implementation of the PTMP, as well as other PUV groups who have already consolidated.

One key issue brought up by the transport groups to the Senate President was the valuation of the existing jeepneys that will be “traded in” by the drivers and operators.

PISTON has noted that the DOTr has yet to decide on the amount, something which Escudero said worries most PUV drivers and operators taking part in the PTMP because of the valuation’s impact on their downpayment for the modern jeepneys.

Under the PTMP, local government units (LGUs) are also required to come up with their respective Local Public Transport Route Plans (LPTRPs), but only a few have been able to comply.

The DOTr informed Escudero that it expects the completion of the route plans between 2026 and 2027.

“Only 71 percent of all LGUs have been able to submit their LPTRPs and of those, only 11 percent have been approved by the DOTr,” Escudero said.

Another option Escudero proposed to the DOTr is to study the possibility of allowing the unconsolidated PUV groups to become part of the route or “to consolidate but not become part of the cooperative” since many of them are uneasy about becoming part of such an organization.

The Senate President reiterated that these issues must first be threshed out before the PTMP is implemented, specifically cracking down on the so-called colorum PUVs.

In the case of the PUV groups that have consolidated, Escudero said the main concern is the affordability of the modern jeepneys.

With a reported cost of over P2 million for each modern jeepney, Escudero said the PUV drivers and operators will need help in financing.