By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the strike conducted on Monday by transport groups, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia echoed the sentiment of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. of a necessity to replace 15-year-old public utility vehicles (PUVs) throughout the country and the need for modernization.
According to Leonardia, one of the reasons he supports the idea is the “traffic epidemic” in the Philippines.
He said, in other countries, they follow the lifespan of their vehicles, “Here, in the Philippines, once a motor vehicle is born, it does not die.”
However, Leonardia said there should be a compromise between the government and transport sector, and a body should be assigned to thoroughly check the roadworthiness of the aged PUVs.
“The rationale for why there is a move for modernization is not just for its sake, but to check on the roadworthiness of PUVs and the safety of the commuters,” Leonardia added.
Last Monday, Marañon said the proposal by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to phase-out all 15-year-old PUVs is necessary, and the transport sector’s request for vehicle rehabilitation is difficult.
He explained, the most popular type of transport, the jeepney, has been used since World War II, and there is a need to modernize the transport system throughout the entire country.
Marañon also criticized the jeepney, calling it “inefficient” and saying it is the primary cause of heavy traffic in Metro Manila.
United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) Secretary-General Diego Malacad, meanwhile, said he is not totally against modernizing the transport system, but he wants the government to replace old PUVs in the country, particularly if the required vehicle is already on the market./WDJ