00:00 Just yesterday, at the end of 2023, the consolidation deadline given by the government to the PUV drivers and operators for the PUV modernization program has also arrived.
00:15 Because of that, Kiros Portesa is now on the left-hand side against this program.
00:20 We are now joined by the President of the League of Transportation and Operators of the Philippines, Orlando Marquez. Sir, good morning and happy new year to you.
00:32 Happy new year, Sir Orlan.
00:34 Oh, sir, please.
00:44 I'm listening. Happy new year to all the passengers who have been transported.
01:13 First of all, sir, the entire Filipino people know that I am the one who modernized our jeep, which passed PNS compliance until now.
01:30 The first jeep I made, which passed compliance, has been running for 20 years.
01:38 The government is the one who has the ball to decide how this public transport modernization will be successful. Maybe because our relationship as the President of the League of Transportation is very good,
01:59 our government has a good relationship with the DOTR Secretary, Secretary Bautista and Chairman Buadis,
02:08 we were also tempted because we are the majority, meaning that in percentage, the majority want modernization because, first of all, sir Audrey,
02:24 we want to deliver a convenient vehicle for passengers. We want to deliver a safe vehicle for passengers and affordable.
02:38 We have a friend, Mr. Modi Floranda, he is the only one who has a genuine sentiment on this new year.
02:52 I will repeat what we have said about the modernization of the PUJ. The PUJ that was modernized last year, the last administration, did not have a jeep.
03:07 Because the jeeps that were removed, 14,000 or more in the Philippines, were replaced by minibuses. That is why the appearance of Filipinos is lost because in the transportation sector around the world,
03:25 the only thing we know is a jeepney. That is my sentiment and the sentiment of others. They say that the Filipinos are just being naive because they said that a modernized jeepney does not look like a jeepney but a minibus.
03:42 That is the truth. After the price was declared, it suddenly rose and rose, the price was so high. That is why we are really angry because in other countries,
03:58 after the modernization, what is really happening in other countries like Singapore, what I'm saying is because we went there and we talked there, the government is buying based on the operators' preferences,
04:15 what brand of vehicle, what size of vehicle. It is being carried out properly because they put a fund in their account. They put a minimum and maximum amount of funds,
04:31 I don't know how many they will finish in a year. Here in our country, we did not put our own funds because we have a budget, our budget for registration, our budget for consumption.
04:47 That is why, because in other countries, they have enough funds because the public transport buoys are being set aside by the government to be used for modernization.
05:03 But here in our country, there is no fund for this. It is up to the bank to talk to the operators on who wants to borrow.
05:15 That is why, here, they will give you food even if you don't want it, you will eat it if you want. That is how it happened. We, me, because I sacrificed our own money,
05:32 we bought it from what I did 20 years ago in modernization because I started in 1996. That's why, people are not able to build yet, the doors are only inside, depending on the government.
05:46 But the goal of modernization is good. What modernization is trying to explain is good. What is lacking, sir Audrey, is that we do not have our own funds, we have our own buoys for consumption.
06:02 That is why, what the Secretary said the other day, because I talked to him, he said, "Felando, we will put funds and we will fix it."
06:13 Sir Orlando, you mentioned earlier the benefits for the consumers of modernizing our PUJ. You said that it is convenient to commute and the safety of our commuters.
06:28 To encourage our drivers and operators to modernize, what are the benefits for them, for our drivers and operators, once they modernize and organize as a cooperative, sir?
06:44 Ma'am, the benefits are good because first of all, it is a salary and the time they travel is not too much.
06:57 In the modernization, if you want, you can travel for eight hours. That's enough. That's our minimum hours. But what's happening now is that in the 24-hour route, the driver is divided.
07:15 The salary, I'm saying, there was a previous 500, but now, the salary they are giving now is reaching 700, without the incentive of the income that is coming in, the percentage.
07:35 At the same time, there is SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-ibig. That's why the benefits are good.
07:44 I hope that in our country, ma'am, all the rights are still there. Even if it is death, the rights are still there.
07:57 Well, that's right. If we notice in other countries, the public transportation is not that fast, the passengers are not fighting because they have hours of work, they have paid days.
08:13 What's good about this, aside from the minimum wage or the payment for a day, there is an incentive, an incentive in the percentage of income of the PUV you are driving.
08:25 I will just ask, sir, Dolly and DSWD will also provide assistance to the drivers affected by the PUV modernization program. There is a Japanese car firm that will also provide an investment pledge for the program.
08:45 What is your reaction to this, Orlando?
08:48 What we are talking about is good, Secretary, Chairman Buadis. But the view is closed, the ears are closed. You cannot do anything there because it is closed.
09:05 What they are forcing is what others want. I think, not all, but I think even if they are a minority, they should be the ones to be followed. That's what I'm saying. All are about rights, death and death.
09:25 Orlando, this is the last question. The unconsolidated public utility vehicles are allowed to operate until January 31, 2024. What is your reaction to this?
09:40 For us, because of our modernization, I have been saying this for a long time, we are studying it, we are studying it, especially, it is always like that.
09:53 When the new administration comes, when the project is studied, it has been implemented for a long time because the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, sir Audrey,
10:06 started in 1997 when the Department of Labor issued an order. But here is our problem. I will give you an example. If they have imitated the four-piece program with its own fund,
10:25 this is not a problem to complain about. But they did not intend a long-term solution for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. There should be one.
10:41 Well Orlando, thank you very much for your time and for this day. Thank you very much sir Orlando Marquez, the president of LTOP. Thank you very much and happy new year to you.
10:54 Happy new year Carlan.
10:55 Thank you very much sir Audrey madam. Good morning and happy new year to all our countrymen, especially to us in the transportation industry. I hope our new year is happy. Thank you.
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