BONTOC, Mountain Province – The province is now ready to adopt the Philippine Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), a large-scale flagship project of President Rodrigo Duterte supported by the proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program of the Department of Finance.
This, following the Roll-Out/Workshop on Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program spearheaded by the provincial government through the Provincial Planning and Development Office at Ridgebrook Hotel and Restaurant, Samoki last December 4, 2018 attended by operators and drivers of various transport groups in the province, local chief executives, municipal planning and development coordinators, tourism officers, and representatives from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), private sectors, non-government organizations, and the business sector.
The activity is in support of the Local Public Transport Route Planning (LPTRP) as one element of the aforementioned PUV Modernization Program. As stipulated under Department Order No. 2017-011 also known as “Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance” of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the determination and provision of public transportation services from the private sector shall be shifted to the public sector. This move empowers local government units (LGUs) and, in effect, lessens their dependence on the private sector in initiating the planning of local, regional, and national transportation systems. To carry out this move, the LPTRP will guide the LGUs in planning, designing and implementing local public transportation routes.
In his welcome remarks during the orientation, Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. said the rationalization of the transportation system aims to make the country’s public transportation system restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector where drivers and operators have stable, sufficient and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably, adding that LGUs are required under the program to submit their own LPTRP as a pre-requisite for the opening of PUV franchises within their jurisdiction.
“I’d like to challenge the participants, the transport operators and drivers, for your active participation and cooperation in this endeavor as we prepare the Local Public Transportation Plan. Your technical input determines the appropriate mode, quantity and service characteristics of the public transport service in each corridor which will make the routes more responsive to passenger demand and ensure that the hierarchy of roads and modes of transportation are followed,” Lacwasan further stated.
During the orientation, an open forum was facilitated by resource person Elmer N. Mendoza from the Cordillera office of the LTFRB, where the participants raised their issues and concerns regarding the existing, as well as the propositioned, transportation system in the province, and for them to point our potential issues in the implementation of the program and translate all these aspects in the local reality as an input in the plan.
Meanwhile, Provincial Planning and Development Officer Lily Rose Kollin solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders for the implementation of the program.
“I also encourage and solicit our partners in development, the business sector, riding public (commuter), transport group (operators and drivers), private sector and other stakeholders to give their full blast support in this endeavor so our work can always accurately reflect the best of transport expectations as we aim for An integrated, innovative and equitable transport system, providing a range of sustainable, efficient, accessible and safe ways for people and goods to reach their destination,” Kollin added.
By Imelda U. Sawi
Banner photo by: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS
