A group of jeepney drivers and operators who are in favor of the government’s PUV Modernization Program, or PUVMP, on Tuesday filed a Motion for Intervention before the Supreme Court hearing the petition to scrap the program.

The group belonging to Pasang Masda led by Obet Martin, Boy Vargas of ALTODAP, Libay de Luna of ACTO, and Lando Marquez Sr. of LTOP in their motion said they would be adversely affected if the High Court ruled to stop the PUVMP.

“These national transport organizations are in support of the PUV Modernization Program of the government and have, in fact, complied thereto. We saw the changes in the public transport system brought about by the PUVMP and the corresponding benefits it has brought not only to everyone’s health and livelihood but also to the service we provide to the riding public,” the group said in a statement.

Modernized operations covered

“The PUVMP does not only cover improved PUVs but also modernized operations — they will have facilities like garages, fleet management systems that include automatic fare collection systems and GPS, cash/finance management systems — all for the comfort and convenience of passengers, and for the improvement of labor standards for drivers, operators, and transport workers,” they said.

According to them, the PUVMP also pushes for more environmentally-sound PUVs.

“In fact, in one of the assailed issuances (DoTr D.O. No. 2017-11 Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance or Omnibus Franchising Guidelines) it laid down, as one of the policies and principles, public transport throughout the country shall be delivered in a manner that is reliable, safe, accessible, environmentally friendly, dependable, efficient and comfortable.”

“Again, all these are for the public’s welfare,” said the group that claims to have members across the country.