By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

A safe, efficient, accessible, and affordable transportation system is the hallmark of a progressive nation. It serves as a long-term goal that the country continues to work for through the help of various initiatives and reforms being implemented by transportation agencies across the board.

At the Palace press briefing held this Thursday, June 26, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon discussed updates on some of the recent transport-related issues.

Last week, in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the DOTr began its crackdown on taxi operators at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) following reports on overcharging of passenger fares.

As of press time, 11 taxi operators were apprehended for such violations vis-à-vis suspension of their respective driver’s licenses by the authorities.

Secretary Dizon lamented, “Importante dito siguro, na maintindihan ng mga kababayan natin na napakaklaro po ng direksiyon ng ating Pangulo—na itong napakatagal nang pang-aabuso ng mga taxi sa airport, hindi lamang sa mga kababayan natin kung hindi pati sa mga turista na nagbibigay ng napakalaking kahihiyan sa ating bansa, ay kailangan mahinto na.”

Dizon declared, “Kaya ngayon po, hindi lamang tayo nagka-crackdown kung hindi nakikipag-ugnayan na po tayo sa bagong operator ng NAIA para gumawa ng mas maayos, mas transparent, at mas magandang sistema diyan sa NAIA para maiwasan na itong matagal nang ginagawa against our people.”

Moreover, Office of Transport Security (OTS) Administrator Arthur Bisnar and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines were tasked to lead the probe against the alleged collusion of erring taxi operators and airport police in the overcharging scheme on passengers.

Dizon said, “Sa kasalukuyan ay mino-monitor ng LTFRB ang metro ng mga taxi sa airport ‘no. Hihingi tayo ng report sa kanila kung ilan na ang na-recalibrate o mayroon ba silang nahuling dinadaya ang metro. Lahat po iyan at hindi po tayo titigil, araw-araw pong nandiyan ang LTFRB at LTO ngayon. Sana matakot na itong mga mapang-abusong mga taxi driver at pati na rin iyong mga kasabwat nila sa airport police dahil hindi talaga natin titigilan ito.”

On proposed privatization of LRT-2, MRT-3

Moreover, Secretary Dizon also discussed the long-term plans towards resolving persistent problems plaguing Metro Manila’s rail lines, specifically concerning Light Rail Transit 2 (LRT-2) and Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3).

He cited this after apologizing for the LRT-2 service interruption on Wednesday, June 25, which affected the segment from Antipolo to Cubao, causing an inconvenience to the riding public.

Dizon said, citing the maintenance woes of the metropolis’ aging railway infrastructure, “Alam ninyo, hindi ganoon kadaling ayusin itong mga sistemang ito. Ang pangmatagalang solusyon talaga dito ay dapat idaan sa PPP (Public-Private Partnership) itong mga sistemang ito kagaya ng LRT-2 at MRT-3. Iyon talaga ang pangmatagalang solusyon dahil habang ang gobyerno ang nag-o-operate nito, limitado tayo sa budget, limitado rin tayo ng ating mga procurement rules.”

“Pero ang ginagawa natin ngayon, pinipilit nating mabilis na maayos ang mga aberya. Nagdagdag na rin, ayon na rin sa utos ng Pangulo, ng mga paraan para kahit papaano naman ay maibsan nang kaunti iyong hirap ng mga kababayan natin kapag nadatnan ng mga ganitong aberya,” he added,

The Transport chief cited the government’s progress in ensuring the privatization of LRT-2 and MRT-3 through the PPP, with funding from partners such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

He said, “Very important iyan kasi lumalaki ang ridership ng LRT-2, although hindi pa siya kasing-taas tulad ng LRT-1 at MRT-3, pero dahil na rin sa extension nito hanggang Antipolo at mayroon tayong pinaplanong extension papuntang North Harbor, tingin ko kailangan na talaga nating i-PPP ito para maging maayos ang operations and maintenance ng LRT-2.”

On PUVMP matters

Meanwhile, Secretary Dizon also addressed queries regarding DOTr’s progress on the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), reassuring the masses that the government is trying its best to expedite its implementation across the country.

However, he also cited several hurdles, including economic viability, that need to be overcome in ensuring that commuters enjoy the benefits of modernized public transportation, but not at the expense of the welfare of PUV drivers and operators.

“Kailangan nating i-address iyong problema ng masyadong mahal na vehicles; kailangan nating i-address iyong isyu ng lack of spare parts and maintenance; at kailangan din nating i-address iyong isyu ng limited access to financing—na iyon talaga ang nagiging problema dahil nga marami sa mga modernized nating mga operators ngayon ay hirap magbayad ng kanilang mga utang. Ibig sabihin lang noon ay nalulugi sila,” Dizon declared.

Likewise, the Transport chief has also clarified that there would be subsidies and incentives that would be provided by the government to transport operators and drivers. Such financial interventions are intended to encourage them to participate in the PUVMP with the promise of boosted income for all stakeholders.

“There are subsidies in place. But the problem is, we cannot rely on subsidies alone to modernize our public utility vehicles. This needs to be primarily market-driven,” Secretary Dizon said.

He added, clarifying that sole reliance on subsidies is not a sustainable solution to woes plaguing the PUVMP, “The economy has to make sense; dapat bottom line dito, may insentibo ang mga operators at drivers natin na mag-modernize dahil kikita sila. Dahil kung hindi sila kikita, kahit ano pang gawin natin, mahirap ma-incentivize ang mga transport groups na mag-modernize.”

On looking after the uploader of the viral GV Florida video

At the same press briefing, Secretary Dizon also reassured the public that the agency would protect the welfare and safety of the uploader behind a viral video posted on social media, which shows the alleged racing of some GV Florida buses along the stretch of Maharlika Highway in Isabela.

This pronouncement from the Transport chief was in response to the bus company’s announcement of a cyberlibel case that would be filed against the original poster of the dashcam footage on Facebook, which he cites as a form of “harassment.”

Secretary Dizon declared, noting the President’s directive on ensuring the road safety of Filipinos across the archipelago, “Absolutely, harassment iyan, klarong-klaro. In fact, inutusan ko na ang LTFRB na talagang sabihan ang GV Florida na kung ipu-pursue niya iyong kaso against sa kababayan natin na nag-upload, ang talagang makakabangga niya [ay] ang DOTr at ang buong gobyerno dito.”

He added, “At dahil nga diyan, ini-encourage ang mga kababayan natin na mag-report ng pang-aabuso. Kaya itong harassment na ito, hindi natin papayagan na gawin against our concerned citizens na ang gusto lang naman ay mag-report ng pang-aabuso para maging safe ang ating mga kababayan.”

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