Press Release - Robin Stresses Support for 'Hero' Drivers, Local Manufacturers in PUV Modernization Program

Our "hero" jeepney drivers as well as local manufacturers must be the first to benefit from the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program, and the government must make sure of this.

Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla on Friday stressed this on Friday at the Senate Committee on Public Service's hearing on bills for the PUV modernization program and the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.

"Hindi kami kontra sa modernization. Walang taga-gobyerno ang kokontra sa modernization. Yun lamang po, yun lang sana suportahan po natin ang lokal nating gumagawa, bago natin bigyang importansya ang ating dayuhan katulad ng kilala na, bihasa na (We are not opposing modernization. No one from government opposes modernization. But we must support our local manufacturers before foreign ones)," Padilla said.

"Sa huli't-huli, hindi natin kailanman lilimutin ang ating layuning bigyang proteksyon higit sa sinuman, ang ating mga maliliit na drivers (In the end, we must not forget our goal to protect the small jeepney drivers)," he added.

Padilla pointed out jeepney drivers continue to play a major role in public transport, with a big chunk of students and workers not being able to get to school or work without riding jeepneys.

He added communities would be paralyzed when PUV drivers - who he referred to as "heroes" - would hold jeepney strikes.

Also, Padilla noted that while the PUV Modernization Program aimed to benefit jeepney drivers and passengers by providing for modern jeepneys when it was launched in 2017, many problems have surfaced during its implementation.

"Sa panahon po na tila mas marami ang dumadaing, umaaray, sa isinusulong na programa po ng ating pamahalaan, hindi po tayo maaaring magbingi-bingihan, bilang tayo po ay public official, tayo ay nag-oath na pangangalagaan natin ang ating taumbayan, kailangan natin pakinggan ang ating mga bayaning jeepney drivers (At a time many are complaining about the program, we public officials cannot turn a deaf ear. We took an oath to help our people, we must now help our hero jeepney drivers)," he said.

Robin, Iginiit ang Suporta para sa 'Hero' Drivers, Lokal na Manufacturers sa PUV Modernization Program

Ang ating mga "hero"