Marcos: PUVMP to push through

MASANTOL, Pampanga, Philippines — Refuting claims that it was rushed, President Marcos stood firm on his decision to implement the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP), now known as the public transport modernization program (PTMP).

Twenty-two senators have signed a resolution calling for the suspension of the program.

“I disagree with them (senators) because they say it was rushed,” Marcos told reporters yesterday when asked to comment on Senate Resolution 1096.

According to the President, the PTMP is long overdue. “This has been postponed seven times. The modernization has been postponed for seven times,” he stressed.

Marcos noted that most of the public utility jeepneys have consolidated, which is the first step of the modernization program.

“And those that have been objecting or been crying out and asking for suspension are in the minority. Eighty percent have already consolidated,” he said.

“So, what now? The 20 percent will decide for the life of the 100 percent?” the President asked partly in Filipino. “So, let’s listen to the majority and the majority says let’s continue. So, that’s what we will do.”

In the Senate resolution, the senators said the program should be suspended “pending the resolution of valid and urgent concerns raised by affected drivers, groups, unions and transport cooperatives with the end in view of ensuring a more efficient and inclusive implementation.”

The 22 senators who signed the resolution were Senate President Francis Escudero, majority leader Francis Tolentino, minority leader Koko Pimentel, pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Raffy Tulfo, Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Only Sen. Risa Hontiveros did not sign the resolution.

For its part, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) thanked President Marcos for choosing to continue the government’s modernization program despite the calls for its suspension.

The move to continue the program “reinforces the importance of