Metro Manila, Philippines – The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Thursday it will continue the highly-divisive public transport modernization program amid a Senate resolution seeking to suspend the modernization plan.
In a press release, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz said he respects the upper chamber’s resolution but pointed out that the modernization project is the government’s way to address transport woes.“We assure the drivers, operators, and stakeholders who participated in the PTMP that it will proceed as long as there is no directive coming from the President and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to halt the program,” Guadiz was quoted as saying in a press release. On Tuesday, Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairman of the committee on public service, released a copy of the proposed resolution signed by 22 senators. It states that the modernization program should be temporarily suspended until the concerns of drivers, operators, and other stakeholders are addressed.The Department of Transportation earlier said the so-called “Magnificent 7” backed the modernization plan.The coalition is composed of Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Stop and Go Transport Coalition, and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, and the UV Express National Alliance of the Philippines.Meanwhile, in a statement, transport group Manibela said they are hoping President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the resolution. Transportation chief Jaime Bautista earlier said the agency has no plans to extend the franchise consolidation deadline once more.
