President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday thanked transport group leaders for their decision of suspending the planned week-long transportation strike in protest against the government's public utility vehicle - modernization program (PUV-MP).
Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) president Mody Floranda and Manibela leader Mar Valbuena met with Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil and Office of the Executive Secretary Undersecretary Roy Cervantes on Tuesday evening to discuss their concerns on the implemention of the modernization program.
"Ako naman ay nagpapasalamat sa kanila na sa palagay ko ay naramdaman nila na they have made their point very clearly na kailangan natin tingnan at pag-aaralan nang mabuti [ang PUV-MP]," he told reporters in an interview on the sideline of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) launch in Quezon City.
"Ito na ang sinabi ko na noon na balikan natin itong sistema na sa pagpalit ng jeepney, bus, at saka iba't ibang transport areas ay kailangan natin tingnan mabuti na hindi tayo nagbibigay ng dagdag na pahirap para sa ating transport workers," Marcos added.
The President noted that the transition process from traditional jeepneys to electric vehicles should be done little by little.
Marcos said he believe that the decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to extend the consolidation of public utility jeepney (PUJ) franchise until the end of 2023 is enough period to fix the PUV-MP system.
