‭17 January 2024‬

‭ ON. JAIME BAUTISTA‬

H
‭Secretary, Department of Transportation‬

S‭ UBJECT: Towards a a public transport reform strategy‬

‭and plan with demonstrable impact that all sectors can trust and support‬

‭ obility‬‭is‬‭a‬‭fundamental‬‭right.‬‭The‬‭position‬‭of‬‭transport‬‭workers,‬‭commuters,‬‭and‬‭advocates‬
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‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭coalition‬ ‭is‬ ‭to‬ ‭support‬ ‭a‬ ‭just‬ ‭transition‬ ‭for‬ ‭an‬ ‭efficient,‬ ‭reliable,‬ ‭humane,‬ ‭and‬ ‭safe‬
‭commuting experience, in a cleaner and healthier environment.‬

‭ ublic‬‭Utility‬‭Vehicles‬‭(PUVs),‬‭consisting‬‭of‬‭jeepneys,‬‭buses,‬‭and‬‭UV‬‭express‬‭vans,‬‭service‬‭most‬
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‭of‬‭public‬‭transit‬‭routes‬‭in‬‭the‬‭country.‬‭Road-based‬‭public‬‭transportation‬‭provides‬‭livelihood‬‭to‬
‭workers‬ ‭and‬ ‭mobility‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭commuting‬ ‭public.‬ ‭Modernizing‬ ‭public‬ ‭utility‬ ‭vehicles‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬
‭system‬‭by‬‭which‬‭they‬‭operate‬‭will‬‭make‬‭daily‬‭commuting‬‭timely‬‭and‬‭reliable‬‭and‬‭provide‬‭stable‬
‭income and humane working conditions for transport workers.‬

‭ e‬ ‭write‬ ‭to‬ ‭once‬ ‭again‬ ‭share‬ ‭our‬ ‭suggestions‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭PUV‬ ‭Modernization‬ ‭Program‬ ‭given‬ ‭the‬
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‭most recent developments:‬

‭1.‬ S‭ uspend‬ ‭the‬ ‭consolidation‬ ‭deadline.‬ ‭PUVMP’s‬ ‭objective‬ ‭is‬ ‭to‬ ‭make‬ ‭road-based‬ ‭public‬
‭transportation‬ ‭accessible,‬ ‭safe,‬ ‭reliable,‬ ‭environmentally‬ ‭sustainable,‬ ‭and‬ ‭convenient‬
‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭commuting‬ ‭public‬ ‭through‬ ‭the‬ ‭transformation‬ ‭of‬ ‭PUV‬ ‭operations,‬ ‭while‬
‭ensuring the protection of existing transport workers in the transition process.‬

‭ he‬ ‭Department‬ ‭of‬ ‭Transportation‬ ‭must‬ ‭accept‬ ‭that‬ ‭there‬ ‭is‬ ‭shortage‬ ‭in‬ ‭public‬
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‭transportation‬‭supply‬‭even‬‭with‬‭all‬‭PUV‬‭units‬‭that‬‭are‬‭operational.‬‭We‬‭see‬‭these‬‭in‬‭the‬
‭long‬ ‭lines‬ ‭in‬ ‭terminals,‬ ‭long‬ ‭waiting‬ ‭times‬ ‭in‬ ‭public‬ ‭transport‬ ‭queues,‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬
‭overloading of many units due to desperation of passengers to get to their destination.‬

‭ ven‬ ‭when‬ ‭there‬ ‭are‬ ‭“only”‬‭20%‬‭of‬‭public‬‭transport‬‭units‬‭that‬‭remain‬‭unconsolidated,‬

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‭this‬ ‭is‬ ‭still‬ ‭20%‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭current‬ ‭public‬ ‭transport‬ ‭supply‬ ‭lost‬ ‭once‬ ‭the‬ ‭February‬‭1,‬‭2024‬
‭deadline‬ ‭comes.‬ ‭This‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭huge‬ ‭number‬ ‭of‬ ‭units‬ ‭lost‬ ‭on‬ ‭our‬ ‭roads‬ ‭that‬ ‭will‬ ‭make‬ ‭the‬
‭commuting experience more difficult and unsafe, contrary to the program’s objectives.‬

‭2.‬ C‭ hoose‬ ‭pilot‬ ‭areas‬ ‭where‬ ‭the‬ ‭full‬ ‭benefits‬‭of‬‭PUVMP‬‭can‬‭be‬‭demonstrated‬‭and‬‭focus‬

‭the limited budget in delivering tangible results.‬

‭ he‬ ‭implementing‬ ‭agencies‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭PUVMP‬ ‭have‬ ‭limited‬ ‭administrative‬ ‭capacities‬ ‭to‬
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‭implement‬ ‭a‬ ‭national‬ ‭program‬ ‭of‬ ‭this‬ ‭scale‬‭everywhere‬‭all‬‭at‬‭once.‬‭It‬‭simply‬‭does‬‭not‬
‭have‬‭the‬‭funding,‬ ‭project‬‭accountability,‬‭and‬‭technical‬‭capacity‬‭in‬‭seeing‬‭this‬‭through.‬

‭1‬
 S‭ even‬ ‭years‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭short‬ ‭time‬ ‭to‬ ‭nationally‬ ‭phase‬ ‭out‬ ‭old‬ ‭units‬ ‭and‬ ‭reform‬ ‭the‬ ‭public‬
‭transport‬ ‭system,‬ ‭when‬ ‭there‬ ‭are‬ ‭no‬ ‭success‬ ‭stories‬ ‭anywhere‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Philippines‬‭that‬
‭we can learn from and scale up.‬

‭ e‬ ‭listened‬ ‭to‬ ‭your‬ ‭press‬ ‭conference‬ ‭earlier‬ ‭and‬ ‭we‬ ‭agree‬ ‭that‬ ‭there‬ ‭will‬ ‭always‬ ‭be‬
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‭resistance‬‭to‬‭any‬‭government‬‭program‬‭as‬‭not‬‭everyone‬‭has‬‭the‬‭same‬‭level‬‭or‬‭readiness‬
‭to‬ ‭transition.‬ ‭However,‬ ‭the‬ ‭solution‬ ‭is‬ ‭to‬ ‭not‬ ‭forcibly‬ ‭remove‬ ‭the‬ ‭livelihoods‬‭of‬‭those‬
‭who refuse to trust the administration. That is, in its very essence, a phaseout.‬

‭ overnment‬ ‭must‬ ‭instead‬ ‭show‬ ‭demonstrable‬ ‭impact‬ ‭of‬ ‭what‬ ‭PUVMP‬ ‭can‬ ‭do‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬
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‭ground‬‭—‬‭how‬‭it‬‭can‬‭fix‬‭the‬‭commuting‬‭experience,‬‭how‬‭it‬‭can‬‭benefit‬‭the‬‭drivers‬‭and‬
‭operators‬ ‭who‬ ‭subscribe‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭program,‬ ‭and‬ ‭how‬ ‭it‬ ‭can‬ ‭improve‬ ‭the‬ ‭local‬ ‭transport‬
‭experience‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭LGUs‬ ‭that‬ ‭will‬ ‭co-implement‬ ‭the‬ ‭program‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭national‬
‭government‬‭.‬ ‭The‬ ‭burden‬ ‭of‬ ‭proof‬‭rests‬‭on‬‭the‬‭government‬‭as‬‭admittedly,‬‭many‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭fears‬‭of‬‭our‬‭transport‬‭workers‬‭are‬‭not‬‭unfounded.‬‭As‬‭transport‬‭workers‬‭see‬‭the‬‭benefits‬
‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭program,‬ ‭resistance‬ ‭will‬ ‭naturally‬ ‭lower‬ ‭and‬ ‭they‬ ‭themselves‬ ‭will‬ ‭support‬ ‭the‬
‭program's implementation.‬

‭ here‬ ‭are‬‭many‬‭willing‬‭transport‬‭groups‬‭and‬‭local‬‭government‬‭units‬‭who‬‭are‬‭ready‬‭to‬
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‭co-implement‬‭and‬‭be‬‭a‬‭pilot‬‭of‬‭the‬‭program‬‭implementation.‬‭T‬‭here‬‭is‬‭no‬‭need‬‭to‬‭force‬
‭those‬ ‭who‬ ‭resist‬ ‭by‬ ‭removing‬ ‭their‬ ‭livelihoods‬ ‭because‬ ‭the‬ ‭current‬ ‭PUVMP‬ ‭budget‬
‭available is not enough to support everyone anyways.‬

‭ aving‬ ‭a‬ ‭well-funded,‬ ‭high‬ ‭technical‬ ‭capacity,‬‭and‬‭concentrated‬‭pilot‬‭area‬‭can‬‭ensure‬

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‭faster‬‭and‬‭easier‬‭progress‬‭in‬‭scaling‬‭up:‬‭(1)‬‭it‬‭allows‬‭us‬‭to‬‭observe‬‭and‬‭learn;‬‭(2)‬‭proof‬‭of‬
‭concept‬‭will‬‭lead‬‭to‬‭adoption‬‭on‬‭a‬‭larger‬‭scale;‬‭(3)‬‭private‬‭institutions‬‭will‬‭see‬‭how‬‭they‬
‭can support specific components; and, (4) financial institutions will see the viability.‬

‭3.‬ ‭Implement PUVMP as a package of interventions for just transition and just reform‬

‭ he‬ ‭program‬ ‭should‬ ‭have‬ ‭two‬ ‭components:‬ ‭modern‬ ‭operations‬ ‭and‬ ‭modern‬
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‭components.‬ ‭As‬ ‭a‬ ‭key‬ ‭part‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭modernization‬ ‭program,‬ ‭the‬ ‭government‬ ‭must‬
‭implement‬ ‭service‬ ‭contracting‬ ‭more‬ ‭efficiently.‬ ‭It‬ ‭is‬ ‭best‬ ‭implemented‬ ‭when‬ ‭the‬
‭government‬ ‭partially‬ ‭subsidizes‬ ‭transport‬ ‭operators‬ ‭and‬ ‭still‬ ‭allows‬ ‭transport‬
‭cooperatives‬‭and‬‭corporations‬‭to‬‭collect‬‭fares.‬‭This‬‭will‬‭facilitate‬‭more‬‭humane‬‭working‬
‭conditions‬‭for‬‭transport‬‭workers,‬‭expand‬‭the‬‭reach‬‭of‬‭the‬‭program,‬‭and‬‭sustain‬‭public‬
‭transport operations longer.‬‭1‬

‭Unit replacement has to be pursued with the following key components:‬

‭1‬
‭Implement‬‭the‬‭Service‬‭Contracting‬‭Program‬‭and‬‭the‬‭Active‬‭Transportation‬‭Program‬‭under‬‭GAA‬‭2022‬‭to‬‭Alleviate‬
‭the Fuel Crisis Impact and to Support Transport Workers and Commuters. 18 March 2022.‬‭Link‬‭.‬

‭2‬
 ‭Intervention‬ ‭Ideal Implementation‬ ‭Benefits‬

‭This will give enough time for‬

‭Transition should not be done‬
‭government agencies to improve their‬
‭instantly and instead be‬
‭Phased‬ ‭capacity in implementing the‬
‭implemented over a 10-year‬
‭Implementation‬ ‭transition plan and supporting our‬
‭transition plan, with sufficient‬
‭transport workers as they go through‬
‭budget allocated annually.‬
‭each phase of the plan.‬

‭It will reduce the financial burden of‬

‭Financial Assistance‬ ‭ quity subsidy should be increased‬
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‭transport workers, incentivizing them‬
‭for Vehicle‬ ‭to ⅓ or 33% of the acquisition cost‬
‭to comply with the program and‬
‭Modernization‬ ‭per unit, whichever is higher‬
‭replace their units.‬

‭This make it easier for our operators‬

‭ ectify defective‬
R ‭Implement an amnesty process to‬
‭and drivers to join cooperatives and be‬
‭operator documents‬ ‭update all driver records‬
‭registered in government programs‬

‭Government should only partially‬

I‭ t will help the government take‬
s‭ ubsidize transport operators with‬
‭responsibility in balancing the income‬
‭fully consolidated entities and still‬
‭of transport workers and the expenses‬
‭allow them to collect fares.‬
‭of commuters.‬
‭Service Contracting‬
‭ outes should be coordinated so that‬
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I‭ t will allow for more humane working‬
‭transport workers will not be forced‬
c‭ onditions for transport workers and‬
‭to compete with each other along‬
‭more reliable service for commuters.‬
‭the same routes.‬

‭Multi-stakeholder governance‬ ‭This will guide the implementation of‬

S‭ takeholder‬
‭committees should be formed and‬ ‭the program and allow for early‬
‭Participation‬
‭convened regularly by the DOTr.‬ ‭feedback from affected stakeholders.‬

‭Government must prioritize existing‬

‭transport operators and workers‬
‭servicing routes who agree to deliver‬
‭a common service plan and operate‬
‭under a common fleet management.‬

‭If the route requires upgrading to a‬

d‭ ifferent type of vehicle, cooperative‬
‭ his will allow consolidated entities to‬
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‭and corporations currently servicing‬
‭Just Transition‬ ‭have better access to new capital, fleet‬
‭that route must be given financial‬
‭upgrades, and operations expansion.‬
‭support by the state to transition.‬

‭Barriers for participation in the‬

p‭ rogram should be lowered so that‬
‭all transport workers can have the‬
‭opportunity to join.‬

‭Social security should be provided‬

‭3‬
 ‭Intervention‬ ‭Ideal Implementation‬
‭for elderly transport workers who‬
‭will be unable to take out huge loans‬
‭for unit replacement.‬
‭ ILG should encourage LGUs to‬
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‭Local Public‬ ‭develop and legislate their LPTRP.‬
‭Transport Route‬ ‭While it is being developed, existing‬
‭Plan‬ ‭authorized PUV routes, operators,‬
‭and cooperatives should remain.‬
‭This should be based on existing and‬
‭anticipated commuter travel needs,‬
‭be regularly updated, and be publicly‬
‭available. It should cover route‬
‭Common Service‬ ‭alignment, schedule, service‬
‭Plan‬ ‭frequency, service duration, and‬
‭other details.‬
‭It should also include a platform for‬
‭commuter feedback.‬
‭PUV specifications should be aligned‬
‭with international standards for‬
‭safety, emissions, IT, and‬
‭disability-inclusion.‬
‭ hese specifications should be‬
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‭ ehicle‬
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‭consulted with multi-sectoral‬
‭Specifications‬
‭stakeholder committees.‬
‭The DOTr, with the DENR, should‬
e‭ stablish procedures for surrender‬
‭and sound environmental disposal of‬
‭old PUVs under the program.‬
‭This should be interoperable on all‬
‭public transport systems.‬
‭Cashless Fare‬
‭Collection‬ ‭There should also be budgets for‬
‭subsidized fare media and a‬
‭timetable for the transition.‬
‭4‬
‭Benefits‬
‭This will complete the comprehensive‬
‭development plan of the LGU‬
‭This will help inform travel demand,‬
‭target frequency, and route‬
‭modification.‬
‭This will remove on-street‬
‭competition and enable all units on a‬
‭route to operate as a team in‬
‭delivering a common service plan.‬
‭This will help make transport‬
‭accessible, safe, reliable, and‬
‭convenient for commuters.‬
‭This will help support vehicles in‬
‭meeting the goal to make commuting‬
‭safe, reliable, and environmentally‬
‭sustainable, as engine replacement‬
‭alone will not be able to deliver the‬
‭goal.‬
I‭ t will comply with accessibility‬
‭requirements for persons with‬
‭disabilities ((BP 344).‬
‭ roper disposal of used vehicles will‬
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‭ensure that they will not continue to‬
‭operate elsewhere or become safety‬
‭hazards.‬
‭It will facilitate convenient, fair, and‬
e‭ fficient fare collection in road-based‬
‭PUVs.‬
‭ ll vehicles can collect fares and‬
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‭transparently put them into a common‬
‭revenue pot for social security or other‬
‭benefits of transport workers,‬
 ‭Intervention‬ ‭Ideal Implementation‬ ‭Benefits‬

‭DOTr should coordinate with LGUs,‬

‭This will contribute towards reliable‬
‭MMDA, and the DPWH to develop‬
‭PUV-Only Lanes‬ r‭ oad-based public transport, as PUVs‬
‭PUV-only lanes for‬
‭will be able to move more people.‬
‭fully-consolidated routes.‬

‭LGU-managed‬ ‭DOTr should develop policies to‬ ‭This will ensure connectivity of routes‬
‭Public‬ e‭ ncourageLGUs to become effective‬ ‭and continuity of quality service in‬
‭Transportation‬ ‭partners in public transportation in‬ ‭provinces, cities, and other‬
‭System‬ ‭their respective jurisdictions.‬ ‭municipalities.‬

‭Setting up these stations encourages‬

‭Supporting electric‬
‭Setting up of charging stations for‬ ‭cooperatives to consider electric PUVs‬
‭vehicles for‬
‭e-vehicles especially among long‬ ‭too as part of the country’s climate‬
‭decarbonized public‬
‭routes‬ ‭agenda of reducing emissions from‬
‭transport‬
‭transportation.‬

‭ e‬ ‭reiterate‬ ‭the‬ ‭need‬ ‭to‬ ‭include‬ ‭affected‬ ‭sectors‬ ‭(e.g.,‬ ‭through‬ ‭a‬ ‭multi-sectoral‬ ‭governance‬
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‭committee)‬ ‭in‬ ‭policymaking‬ ‭in‬ ‭order‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭program‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬ ‭successful:‬ ‭in‬ ‭co-creating‬ ‭the‬
‭program,‬ ‭co-designing‬ ‭the‬ ‭process‬ ‭for‬ ‭Local‬ ‭Public‬ ‭Transport‬ ‭Route‬ ‭Plans‬ ‭(LPTRPs),‬ ‭and‬
‭clarifying the accountability of the program components.‬

‭ he‬‭coalition‬‭also‬‭wants‬‭to‬‭raise‬‭a‬‭great‬‭opportunity‬‭for‬‭the‬‭country‬‭to‬‭have‬‭its‬‭own‬‭productive‬
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‭capacity‬‭to‬‭manufacture‬‭electric‬‭PUVs.‬‭The‬‭Department‬‭of‬‭Trade‬‭Industry‬‭formerly‬‭has‬‭plans‬‭to‬
‭use‬ ‭the‬ ‭Comprehensive‬ ‭Automotive‬ ‭Resurgence‬ ‭Strategy‬ ‭(CARS)‬ ‭Program‬ ‭and‬ ‭we‬ ‭hope‬ ‭this‬
‭could still be considered under the new administration.‬

‭ he‬‭hope‬‭of‬‭Move‬‭As‬‭One‬‭Coalition‬‭is‬‭to‬‭have‬‭a‬‭public‬‭transport‬‭reform‬‭strategy‬‭and‬‭plan‬‭with‬
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‭demonstrable impact that all sectors can trust and support.‬

‭Toward a safe, humane, and inclusive transport system,‬

‭ R. ROBERT SIY JR.‬

D ‭ EYCEL HYACENTH NACARIO BENDAÑA‬
R
‭Co-convenor, Move As One Coalition‬ ‭Coordinator, Move As One Coalition‬

‭5‬