Spokesperson: Stop blaming PUVs for traffic

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros chapter of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), recently expressed their support for operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in their opposition to the PUV modernization program, which would eliminate old and obsolete vehicles.

According to NDF spokesperson Ka Frank Fernandez, the program, an initiative of the President Rodrigo Duterte administration, will impact the families of thousands of PUV operators, which he said the president would be “criminally liable.”

He claimed the government is trying to monopolize the transportation industry, calling those in partnership with the national government “insensitive.”

Fernandez also said PUVs are not to blame for traffic and environmental problems, claiming private vehicles contribute more to the problems, along with industry adding to the growing environmental problems in the country.

Last month, the NDF chapter demanded Duterte’s ouster, calling it a “democratic and patriotic obligation of every Filipino.”

They also called on religious leaders, particularly the Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the island, to protest the Duterte administration and demand the president be removed from office./DGB, WDJ