If the Department of Transportation has its way, more than 30 percent of jeepneys will be off the road starting this year. Those are the vehicles that private operators did not include in new jeepney cooperatives and corporations required by the DOTr. That will be the first stage of the government’s controversial jeepney modernization program. The older, decrepit vehicles will then be replaced by newer models, some no longer resembling the iconic back-entry designs of the traditional jeepney.
Modernization is more than new vehicles, Transportation Secretary Bautista is quick to emphasize in his conversation with Howie Severino. Public transport routes will be studied and “rationalized,” so that the number of public utility vehicles will be adjusted according to the volume of commuters along those routes.
Despite the reduction of jeepneys plying existing routes, Bautista assures that there will be no commuter crisis, as he says the remaining jeepneys will be more than enough to handle the demand. Even with the modern jeepneys, Bautista asserts that the future of public transport lies not in road vehicles but in trains, as he gives us an overview of the rail projects in the pipeline.
Isn’t it a disadvantage for chauffeur-driven officials like him to be making decisions about pubic transport? Secretary Bautista has a ready answer.
Modernization is more than new vehicles, Transportation Secretary Bautista is quick to emphasize in his conversation with Howie Severino. Public transport routes will be studied and “rationalized,” so that the number of public utility vehicles will be adjusted according to the volume of commuters along those routes.
Despite the reduction of jeepneys plying existing routes, Bautista assures that there will be no commuter crisis, as he says the remaining jeepneys will be more than enough to handle the demand. Even with the modern jeepneys, Bautista asserts that the future of public transport lies not in road vehicles but in trains, as he gives us an overview of the rail projects in the pipeline.
Isn’t it a disadvantage for chauffeur-driven officials like him to be making decisions about pubic transport? Secretary Bautista has a ready answer.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Good morning, Podmates! Howie Severino here again, reminding you that long attention spans are smart.
00:07 Jeepneys and the Jeepney Modernization Program are in the news again.
00:12 Aside from being an important part of our transportation system,
00:16 the long-standing symbol of Filipino culture is the "Makamasang Jeepney."
00:21 We're honored today to have as our guest, the Secretary of Transportation, Jaime Bautista.
00:26 Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us, sir.
00:31 Hi, Howie. Thank you for the invitation.
00:36 This is a good venue for us to be able to explain our PUP Modernization Program.
00:45 Thank you very much, Howie.
00:46 Thank you, sir.
00:47 Last year, you said that the December 31 deadline for consolidation of Jeepney operators was non-negotiable.
00:58 The deadline has already passed.
01:00 Are there many Jeepney operators who did not comply?
01:04 What is the consequence or penalty if they did not fulfill the consolidation deadline?
01:12 You know Howie, we gave the opportunity to those who have not yet consolidated to conform with the requirements of the program until December 31 of last year.
01:28 In fact, even though it was a holiday, our people from LTFRB entered and accepted the application for consolidation.
01:39 We were able to accept I think around 25,000 more applicants for consolidation.
01:50 With that additional 25,000, it shows in our figures that we have a consolidation rate of almost 70% nationwide.
02:02 So it means that our records that we used to know the number of fruit and number of vehicles, it shows that 70% already complied.
02:21 And with the program that we are studying, we don't need to have 100% consolidation rate. 65% will suffice and we can implement the program.
02:35 Your question of what will happen to those who did not consolidate, what will happen to them is that their franchise will not be renewed.
02:48 Because what they are holding now is what we call provisional authority.
02:55 If you consolidate, automatically it will be renewed for five years.
03:01 But since they did not renew, their provisional authority no longer has a visa, although we allowed them to operate until January 31 of this year.
03:17 Okay, sir. To refresh, what does consolidation mean in the context of the Jeepney Modernization Program?
03:27 You know, Howie, this Jeepney Modernization Program has 10 components and one of the important components is consolidation.
03:38 It means we want the participants to become a member of a cooperative or a corporation.
03:47 Because if they are a member of a cooperative, they will work together as a group.
03:53 You know our problem here in the transport sector is that we are all on our own in the past.
04:01 For example, we are fighting with the passengers and the routes and we forget the very important responsibility,
04:12 which is providing safe, comfortable, accessible, affordable travel experience.
04:22 If you are a part of consolidation, you will follow the standard set by the cooperative or corporation.
04:31 It means the maintenance of your vehicle is correct.
04:36 It means you will follow the dispatching requirements of the cooperative.
04:43 You will not just go to a long queue route, but you will follow the correct time given by the cooperative
04:57 so that the operations are in line with the requirements of the passengers.
05:04 Second, the drivers will be paid by the cooperative or corporation.
05:12 The ones who will benefit from this are the many stakeholders of the transport industry.
05:20 First of all, the biggest beneficiaries are the drivers.
05:27 Second, the operators or the owners of the vehicles will benefit.
05:35 They are not necessarily the drivers, they are the investors because the operations are in line.
05:42 The operation of the cooperative or corporation will be profitable.
05:50 This means that if it's profitable, they will get their investment,
05:56 they will have a reasonable rate of return on their investment,
06:02 and they will be able to pay the drivers correctly.
06:06 They will be able to give them the correct benefit.
06:08 At least, they will be able to pay the minimum wage, they will have SSS contribution,
06:16 and in the future, they will have a retirement.
06:20 So that is the biggest benefit of consolidation.
06:29 That's why we are trying to consolidate the industry.
06:34 Okay sir, despite the benefits that you mentioned,
06:39 there are still 30% that according to you,
06:42 have not been able to consolidate the requirement of the program.
06:48 You said that their franchises will not be renewed,
06:52 which means that the ones that are not organized into cooperatives will not be able to operate.
06:59 So, there will be no public vehicles on the roads.
07:05 Will there be a transportation crisis because of the lack of public utility vehicles on the road?
07:14 According to the study that we did, 70% is enough to have the correct number of seats that will operate.
07:32 Because according to the record that we saw,
07:37 there are many vehicles that are not operating because the vehicles are old,
07:44 but they still have a franchise.
07:47 Maybe that's what we see that they don't want to consolidate
07:52 because we said that you can still use your old vehicles as long as these are roadworthy.
08:00 If we consolidate, we will know how many roadworthy vehicles are there.
08:08 And because we have the information, we are reconciling the record of LTFRB and LTO.
08:20 We will know that there are vehicles that still have a franchise but cannot operate.
08:29 The number of vehicles is not the only important thing.
08:34 The percentage of roads that consolidate is also important.
08:40 That's higher than the number of vehicles.
08:45 Because we can make those roads efficient.
08:50 We can cut the other roads that are narrow and that are passing through existing roads.
08:58 I will give you an example of Awi.
09:02 There are many roads there that are only 5 to 8 kilometers away.
09:10 There are maybe 200 jeeps operating there.
09:15 But there is a longer road that is passing through that road that can be full of vehicles that will not consolidate.
09:27 That's what LTFRB sees.
09:31 Especially here in Metro Manila, the traffic will be reduced if we reduce the number of public utility vehicles in certain routes.
09:44 So our next program is what we call route rationalization.
09:51 We will review the routes, like the routes that were operated before that did not consolidate.
10:01 This can be approved by the operators that consolidated.
10:07 And we're working with the local government.
10:12 Although that was started by our LTFRB, we will continue and complete it in the whole Philippines.
10:24 LTPRP or Local Public Transport Route Plan.
10:31 That's the next thing we will fix.
10:34 As we finalize this, we will know what are the things we need in our vehicles.
10:43 What are the routes that will be profitable and sustainable that we can buy new equipment.
10:52 Because that route will be profitable.
10:55 We can tell the investors or the operators that we can replace the old vehicles because the operations of these routes will be profitable.
11:09 So you know how this PUV modernization program is not just replacing the old vehicle with a new vehicle.
11:20 It is a long process. It will take maybe 5 to 8 years before we implement the whole program.
11:29 Before we replace the modernized equipment, the old vehicles.
11:39 Good thing you clarified that sir.
11:41 Because when you think of the modernization of jeepneys, you immediately think of the new model of jeepney.
11:49 But let's go back to the route rationalization or the road arrangement.
11:57 Because that is an important component of the PUV modernization.
12:03 Why did you prioritize consolidation over the road arrangement?
12:11 Of course I have a layman's view of this. But in my mind, I'm thinking if we should prioritize the systematization of routes so that the operators know how to consolidate around certain routes.
12:29 In truth, we should do it simultaneously. That's why we started the consolidation since 2017.
12:42 This program started since 2017. The route rationalization, we have identified many routes.
12:53 This is what we're saying now that we will buy new vehicles on the routes that we see will be profitable and sustainable.
13:10 The position of LTFRB is that consolidation is good. We can see the number of vehicles that will operate and we will relate this to the routes that will be operated.
13:27 This means it will be more sustainable so we can replace the old vehicles that are not roadworthy with new vehicles.
13:47 That is one of the reasons that we can do the route rationalization plan.
13:58 Sir, you're saying that the vehicles are better. Can you please explain to us what you mean by better?
14:07 What is the vision of the vehicles?
14:10 What I mean is this is what conforms the Philippine National Standard. The roof is higher so that passengers can stand.
14:24 If you look at our iconic jeepney, it is on the roof when you enter the vehicle. When you enter, you are at the back. The door is at the back, which is not that safe.
14:43 Under the Philippine National Standard, the door is on the right side. The seat is more comfortable. The engine of the vehicle does not emit dirty smoke.
15:00 The engine should be either electric or Euro 4 or Euro 5 engine. That is one of the major requirements of the Philippine National Standard.
15:14 So that the experience of our passengers is more comfortable. It is cooler, there is air conditioning, and the seat is soft. That is the objective of the Philippine National Standard.
15:34 That is what modern vehicles mean. It can be iconic type or minibus type.
15:47 Well, you said iconic type. Of course, the jeepney is not only iconic to our transportation system, but it has become iconic to our country, our culture.
16:01 In your description, you said it will be more comfortable, it might be safer, more ecological. But it seems like the lifestyle based on jeepney riding will change.
16:19 If the door is on the right side instead of the back, it means that the seats are in front of the driver. Is that right? And the passengers are not facing each other.
16:32 There are seats like that, but there are also old seats that are on the sides. This is one of the available modern jeepneys that our operators can choose.
16:53 If you look at this, the roof is high. The seat is on the right side. The door is on the right side. This is one of them.
17:06 Although, there is also the minibus type. This is one of the approved Philippine National Standard.
17:15 Sir, are these local manufacturers approved? Of course, we have traditional makers of jeepneys. The Saraw itself is iconic, the Francisco Motors versus
17:30 We have seen other models from abroad that are different from our traditional jeepneys. Who will make these new jeepneys, the modern jeepneys?
17:47 We have local assemblers here in the Philippines. They provide new engines, Euro 4, Euro 5. Although, the majority of them are minibuses.
18:08 Although, the minibus that we call comply with the Philippine National Standards, many of them operate here in the Philippines.
18:17 But this iconic jeepney, Francisco Motors, Saraw and other bodybuilders in the Philippines can make it.
18:31 In fact, we talked to Francisco Motors and they are saying that they will have a plant that will make an iconic jeepney, but powered by electric motors or electric powered.
18:54 Francisco Motors said that they can offer this cheaper than imported, which we welcome.
19:04 Sir, you are just leading this jeepney modernization program. You're just assuming the current administration in your position.
19:14 Would you have done anything differently to prepare for it if you were already Secretary of Transportation at the start of this program?
19:24 There is no law that mandates this. This was made by the Department of Transportation during the previous administration.
19:36 They issued what is called franchising guidelines, official franchising guidelines or OFG. That was in 2017.
19:49 They defined the requirement to implement this PUP modernization program. I personally hope that there will be a law that will implement it.
20:06 I told you it's not a law, but it was a program. We are just implementing what the previous government has started.
20:18 There is a slight variation and change.
20:23 I personally saw that this is a good program for passengers. I was really pushing for it also.
20:36 If there is a lack of this, we should discuss it. That's why in our office, we are open to discussion with the stakeholders, the transport stakeholders,
20:51 so that we can implement it properly. That's why I told those who are not supporting us, we will discuss it.
21:01 If you have concerns, you can tell us and we will address it. Actually, that's what we did.
21:08 We've been talking to the different transport groups and we talked to many of them.
21:19 There are more people who support us, although there are two groups against it.
21:27 But this is not included in the majority.
21:32 Sir, your main previous experience was in the aviation industry as we know, as a former president of Philippine Airlines.
21:42 How have you tried to learn about land transportation? Are there similarities or is it vastly different?
21:51 What are your learnings about land transportation since you became transport secretary?
21:58 Land transport is more complicated because in aviation, we have set a standard that we have to follow.
22:12 We have an international association that polices the aviation industry.
22:19 We have the International Air Transport Association and the International Association of Airlines.
22:28 We are trying to implement all of these because safety is very important, comfort is very important.
22:39 Following these standards, the association became a requirement.
22:46 In fact, we are audited by this IATA, the so-called operational safety audit.
22:56 If you don't pass that, you will be removed from the association.
23:02 The good thing about aviation is it's regulated, highly regulated and we have to follow regulations of many different countries.
23:18 This is what's lacking in the road sector.
23:23 We said we will help each other to implement the right standard.
23:30 In airlines, you have to follow the right schedule.
23:35 You will not just fly to a place where you don't have an approved schedule.
23:41 Here in the road, because of the many chips, many operators, it's not regulated.
23:50 The passengers are fighting for the route. Sometimes, the passengers are not given the right insurance.
24:02 So that's what we try to implement, what we do in the aviation sector.
24:10 That's what I'm trying to do with the help of different government agencies.
24:17 I wanted to ask you how you have tried to learn about our PUV systems.
24:25 You've probably heard the critique from others that our decision makers about public utility vehicles,
24:36 they make policies about jeepneys and other public transportation systems.
24:41 Our public transportation systems are not used by the cabinet members like yourself.
24:47 You have private cars, you have drivers, etc.
24:49 You don't experience the usual experience of commuters, what we're talking about now.
24:55 How do you overcome that disadvantage when it comes to knowing about what you're actually developing policies for?
25:07 When I was a student, I used public transport.
25:14 When I was in elementary, high school, and college, we didn't have a car.
25:20 So I know the experience of passengers.
25:27 I tried to stand on a bus, to sit on a jeepney.
25:38 And my experience is clear.
25:43 I think we need to improve our PUV modernization program.
25:55 What's important here is to have policies to address the needs of passengers, which is very simple to me.
26:08 This is what I call CASA, meaning Comfortable, Accessible, Safe, Secure, and Affordable Travel Experience.
26:19 I'm telling my colleagues here in the Department of Transportation, we should be guided by this CASA value.
26:29 That's what we should always think about when we make decisions, when we make policies. We should think that it should be comfortable, affordable, secure, safe, and accessible travel experience.
26:50 Not only in aviation, but also in road, maritime, and rail sectors.
26:59 Sir, I want to wind up by asking you. You and I and millions of other Filipinos have been able to travel overseas.
27:08 We've seen public transportation systems in other countries.
27:13 Not all of them are rich, but even in other poor countries, they've solved the traffic problem, the public transportation problem.
27:24 Even if there are a lot of people, their system is fine.
27:28 For you, sir, based on what you've seen overseas, what is the ideal urban transport system for the Philippines?
27:39 I think we need to have more railway systems.
27:44 Here in Metro Manila, we know that there are only three rail systems that operate, LRT1, LRT2, and MRT3.
27:55 If you look at it, it's already full.
27:59 We should have more railway lines. Next year, 2025, we will have MRT7.
28:13 This is from San Jose del Monte to EDSA. This is a big help.
28:20 We are now in the process of completing what we call the Metro Manila subway.
28:28 It's a big help when it's done. We're doing our best to finish it by 2029.
28:37 The construction of the Metro Manila subway has already started.
28:41 We're doing what we call the North-South commuter railway from Clark to Calamba.
28:50 That will help improve the travel experience of our passengers and reduce the traffic.
29:00 We are now in the process of finalizing another project which is MRT4.
29:08 That will also be a big help.
29:11 There are three unsolicited proposals of rail projects.
29:18 We're working on it.
29:20 But the important thing is our long-term plan for rail here in Metro Manila.
29:27 The DOT is working closely with JICA to finalize what we call the 30-year master plan for rail in Metro Manila.
29:41 We should have done that many years ago.
29:44 Actually, we were left behind by our neighboring countries.
29:51 For example, Indonesia has a good public transport system.
29:58 Thailand and Vietnam, even Laos for one.
30:04 Laos has a longer rail system than our existing rail system.
30:10 That's what we've been working on for a long time and our President really wants to improve our railway system.
30:21 It will require a lot of money.
30:27 We need to fund it but I think this will be the solution to our transport problem.
30:36 And while the people who are helping us are here, JICA for one, the government of Japan,
30:45 the Asian Development Bank, other countries that want to help us, let's take advantage of the opportunity.
30:58 We are working closely with Japan, JICA, ADB to implement the programs of the Department of Transportation.
31:09 I think this will really help.
31:12 Railway system all over the country will solve the traffic problem of the Philippines.
31:20 Many things to look forward to.
31:22 On that note, thank you very much, Mr. Secretary, for your service and for this conversation.
31:29 Good luck on the challenges ahead.
31:31 Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation, may you live long.
31:37 Thank you, thank you, Howie.
31:38 Hi, I'm Howie Severino. Check out the Howie Severino Podcast.
31:42 New episodes will stream every Thursday.
31:44 Listen for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and other platforms.
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