CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA)The Office of the Transportation
Cooperatives (OTC) continues to encourage operators and drivers of public
utility vehicles (PUVs) to
consolidate as the extended deadline set for them
to join cooperatives draws
near.
Data from the OTC Showed that nearly 80 percent of public transport operators and drivers
in the CALABARZON region has consolidated in
time for the extension set
on Jan. 31 to join cooperatives or corporations for
easier acquisition of modernized PUVs.
Under the Public
Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP),
jeepneys that are 15 or
more years old are required to be replaced with
newer and cleaner units
and for operators to consolidate into a cooperative to enhance efficiency
in public transportation
routes, ultimately benefiting passengers.
Ramil Henderson
Urrera, OTC Board Secretary, explained that drivers
who join a cooperative are
entitled to a monthly salary
and various benefits such
as SSS, Philhealth, and
PAG-IBIG.
“A driver has also
a capital share – whatever the cooperative earns,
a driver has a share,” he
said during the Usapang
PIA program organized by
the Philippine Information
Agency Laguna.
The OTC emphasized its commitment to
supporting all drivers and
operators who join cooperatives ensuring that “no
drivers and operators will
be left behind.”
Celino Geronimo, OTC Admin Officer,
clarified that drivers who
missed the December 31,
2023 deadline for consolidation can still apply to be
drivers for transport cooperatives with new public
transportation units. They
can also avail themselves
of the government’s social
support initiatives such as
“Tsuperskolar” and “Tsupermove”.
Edgar Malinao,
a jeepney driver from Alaminos, Laguna and a
cooperative member, expressed his support for the
program due to expected
benefits.
He stated that he
appreciates receiving a
fixed salary and not having
to worry about income on
a daily basis like before.
Malinao also noted the importance of the
modernization program
in making the country’s
transport system competitive with that of other
nations. He believes it is
crucial to replace old and
unsafe jeepneys.
“We also need to
keep up with the transportation of other countries
so that we can develop
because there are also
jeepneys that are too old
and dangerous to use.”
OTC Chairman
Jesus Ferdinand Ortega
reassured the public that
the PUVMP will continue
to be implemented with
next phases of the program focused on benefiting commuters.
“There is a very
tight deadline. We cannot
extend the deadline because we are moving forward with the next phase
of the program, which will
benefit everyone, especially commuters, as this
program promised,” Orte
