President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Wednesday the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program is necessary but its implementation needs more discussions among its stakeholders, particularly jeepney drivers groups.
In a chance interview with reporters after the launch of Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas At Gulay, Kadiwa’y Yaman, Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement (Hapag Kay PBBM) at the Rizal Park in the City of Manila, the chief executive said while he sees the need to modernize public utility vehicles, proper program implementation is necessary.
“Ngayon, doon sa issue sa modernization na sinasabi, sa aking palagay ay kailangan din gawin talaga ‘yan. Ngunit sa pag-aaral ko, parang hindi maganda ang naging implentation nung modernization,” Marcos said.
“Tama naman ‘yun, kailangan safe ‘yung mga jeepney, ‘yung mga tricycle, ‘yung mga bus, kailangan safe ‘yan,” the President added.
There is a need to look at it in a “different way,” according to the chief executive.
“‘Yung modernization siguro, ‘yung we have to look properly at what the real timetable is for the introduction of electric vehicles kung talagang kailan, kung puwede na ngayon,” the President said.
“Palagay ko hindi pa puwede ngayon, 30 percent pa lang ng power natin is renewable eh. So hindi pa urgent ngayon, sa ngayon. Hindi pa kaya ng impraestruktura natin so we have to build that up,” the President pointed out.
President Marcos assured transport groups that the PUV modernization program of the government will not be an additional burden to the operators and drivers.
“Siguro kaya natin kausapin ang mga transport groups at sabihin natin hindi, babaguhin talaga namin para hindi masyadong mabigat sa bulsa ng bawat isa,” the President said. (PND)
