Senate calls to stop PUV modernization junked by President Marcos

(File photo from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Calls from majority of the senators to suspend the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) have been rejected by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, August 7.

The chief executive, in an ambush interview in Pampanga when asked to react on the matter, said that he disagreed with that move.

“Well, I disagree with them because sinasabi nila, minadali,” Marcos said.

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“This has been postponed seven times. The modernization has been postponed for seven times, and those that have been objecting, or [who] have been crying out and been asking for suspension, are in the minority,” Marcos also said.

The President believes the minority of jeepney drivers should not decide on the issue as he noted that 80 percent of the franchises of jeepney drivers have been consolidated.

“So, papaano naman? Yung twenty percent ang magde-decide?” Marcos asked.

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(So, how is that? The twenty percent will make the decision?)

“Pakinggan natin ‘yung majority at ang majority, sinasabi ituloy natin,” he said.

(Let’s listen to the majority, and the majority says we should continue with it.)

“So, that’s what we will do,” he concluded.

The majority in the Senate, or 22 out of the 23 senators, have thrown their support behind a resolution urging the government to temporarily suspend the implementation of the PTMP, formerly known as the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.