Senate President Francis Escudero expressed his support for the imposed suspension on the PUV Modernization Program during a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday.
During the Senate Committee hearing on Public Services chaired by Senator Raffy Tulfo, Sen. Escudero urged Tulfo to file a resolution expressing the 'Sense of the Senate', calling President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to temporarily suspend the said program.
Escudero manifested his objection on what he referred to as a 'burden' to the transport sector, emphasizing the cultural essence of jeepneys to the country.
“Simbolo pa rin ang jeepney hanggang ngayon dahil parte na ito ng kultura at kasaysayan ng bansa," Escudero said.
“Sino kayo? At sino nagsabing may kapangyarihan kayong burahin ‘yon nang ganon ganon na lamang?” He added.
The Senate president highlighted the high amount of cost the modern jeepneys has and the burden it may bring to operators and drivers.
Following the statement of Escudero, Tulfo then agreed and expressed support towards the suspension of PUVMP implementation.
"Ako po ay maghahain ng resolusyon para suspendihin po itong PUVMP and susuportahan naman po ako ng mga kasamahan ko sa Senado," Tulfo said.
