00:00We will also talk about the implementation of the Pistol and Manibela in the Public Transport Modernization Program, Transportation Undersecretary Andy Ortega.
00:09Usec Andy sir, good morning.
00:12Hi Ivan. Good morning. Good morning to all of you.
00:16First of all, how is our monitoring on day two of the transport strike? How are our commuters?
00:23As of now, I am just checking on the Inter-Agency Task Force. This is always formed when this kind of thing happens.
00:34The seven areas that were reported to me, in Alabang, they have one jeep, 12 people are rallying. In Philkoa, there are 10 people.
00:45In UP, zero. In Welcome, zero. In the Commonwealth, zero. In Aurora Boulevard, zero.
00:53So basically, it is the same as yesterday. There are only a few people in the rally.
01:01But the Inter-Agency Task Force is in full force with the help of MMDA and LGUs.
01:08If there are events, our vehicles and the government are ready to help.
01:14But even though the protest actions are small, Usec, yesterday, based on the monitoring of the reporters who were with us,
01:22some of them had a hard time boarding. Some of them had to wait for one or two hours before boarding the jeep, which is usually not that long.
01:30Yesterday was a Monday and rush hour. It's normal to have a hard time boarding.
01:39But MMDA was able to deploy less than five vehicles yesterday to help the stranded.
01:51So today, we will still continue. But the deployment of rescue vehicles, we are controlling it because we don't want to affect our legitimate consolidated transportation group.
02:06The Pistol and Maribel have a weak motion to resolve in the Supreme Court regarding the suspension of PTMP. What is your reaction to this Usec?
02:17You know Ivan, that's what they did since last year when the government didn't agree with them because they don't want to consolidate.
02:26Unlike the 83 percent that agreed, it's right that they follow up their decision to go to the Supreme Court.
02:36Let's wait for all of that. Maybe that's the right way.
02:40I know that Secretary Bautista mentioned yesterday in our briefing in Malacanang that this suspension is non-negotiable.
02:48They want the Pistol and Maribel to stop the modernization program.
02:53They are trying to make the consolidation voluntary and not mandatory. Is this possible?
03:02You know Ivan, the consolidation or the joining of former operators into a cooperative is the heart of the program because they will be stronger,
03:15more organized and able to fulfill the needs of the passengers. Maybe it's right that it's non-negotiable because that's the most important aspect of the program.
03:26The Pistol also said yesterday in our interview that they will not stop these kinds of protests until the government listens to them.
03:36If we are right, they have been suspended for almost a month. What can we do about this Usec?
03:45First of all, it's their right. They can take whatever time they want to do that.
03:50But it's very clear, commuters, transportation sector, they want the program, the government will continue,
03:59we will respect the decision of the two groups and we will not change our assistance to our commuters.
04:07The issue with the routes Usec, are there enough jeeps passing through? How are we doing with our route rationalization?
04:16It will take two to three years for the route rationalization to be fixed. But those who are consolidating will continue to pass through.
04:27The route rationalization is to know the exact number of vehicles in each route so that there will be no problem with the needs of commuters and less traffic.
04:40It will continue Ivan. After that, the modernization of the vehicles will continue after two or three years.
04:47So it's a step by step. But what's good is the consolidation we did is very successful.
04:55Usec, thank you very much for the update. As always, see you again.
05:00Thank you and good morning.
05:02We talked to Transportation Undersecretary Andy Ortega.
05:10Thank you very much.
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