PISTON National President Mody Floranda on Thursday, January 25, welcomed the three-month extension for the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) franchise consolidation, but noted that this period may not be enough.
Interviewed during DZRH Magandang Umaga Pilipinas, Floranda said that the PUV modernization program's issues cannot be resolved in three months.
"Welcome sa atin ito, pero ang sa atin hindi kailangan ng tatlong buwan dahil ang may problema yung programa [PUV Modernization program]. Baka pwedeng pag-aralan pa ng administrasyon. Hindi sasapat [3 months extension], base sa pag-aaral mismo ng Kongreso," he said.
Mody Floranda, PISTON, national president: Sa bahagi natin, mag-uusap pa rin po kami sa naging hearing kahapon at ano pa ang aktibidad na ating gagawin. #MagandangUmagaPilipinas #SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 24, 2024
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The PISTON national president said the government should allow them to "overhaul" machineries for them to comply with the PUV Modernization Program.
The "overhaul" is said to be part of the rehabilitation they are proposing.
"Ang sinasabi natin na hangga't wala pa talaga sa market yung sinasabi nila [na] electric, inaano natin na payagan tayo sa ilalim ng balangkas ng rehabilation [...] At dahil wala pa tayong engine dito sa Pilipinas, sinasabi natin na baka pwedeng i-overhaul," he said.
Floranda noted that they are always open to a dialogue with government officials.
On Wednesday, members of PISTON and MANIBELA had the chance to discuss the PUV modernization program with House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the lower house.
House Speaker Romualdez nakipa-dayalogo sa PISTON at MANIBELA sa isyu ng PUV Modernization Program | RH12 @milkyrigonan #Balansyado#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 24, 2024
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On the same day, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. extended the consolidation deadline for the PUV franchise until April 30, 2024, to give more time for PUV drivers and operators to consolidate into a cooperatives or corporations.
