MANILA: Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Friday supported the call of public transportation groups for a national summit on the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) to help address issues and concerns on the program. In a press conference at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) headquarters, Bautista said a national summit would help improve the execution of the PTMP. 'Natutuwa ako sa mungkahing magkaroon ng national transport summit para mapag-usapan natin ang mga isyu through dialogue, at mapagtulungan natin ang pagbuo sa mga solusyon (I welcome the suggestion of a national transport summit so we can talk about issues through a dialogue and work together toward a solution),' he said. He also allayed fears on the immediate phase out of traditional jeepneys, noting that the program is being done in phases. 'Yung mga old vehicles hindi naman aalisin kaagad 'yan. Kaya nga maraming components 'yung ating modernization program (We're not going to immediately phas e out old vehicles. There are many components in the modernization program),' he said. The first phase, he said, was the consolidation of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators into cooperatives. The cooperatives, he said, have since experienced 'efficient and profitable' operations. 'Natutuwa sila dahil nagkaron ng consolidation naging efficient ang kanilang operations. Nabibigyan ng tamang benepisyo yung employees nila and because of that naging profitable ang kanilang operations (PUV operators are happy with consolidation because their operations have since been more efficient. Their employees are also receiving proper benefits and they are profitable),' he said. Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s support for the PTMP, Bautista said the DOTr would now proceed with the next phase which is route rationalization. 'We are working closely with local governments. Kailangan pa magkaroon ng coordination para mas mapadali ang [route rationalization] (There needs to be coordination for easier route r ationalization),' he said. He said the third component, or the actual modernization of PUVs, will not require the acquisition of new jeepney models until after the Local Public Transport Route Plans (LPTRP) have been ironed out. 'Kasi 'yung LPTRP ay napagaralan mabuti yung ruta. Dahil napagaralang mabuti yan, may confidence tayo na magiging profitable 'yung ruta and yung mga bangko meron din silang confidence na magpautang sa mga operators na mayroon nang LPTRP (The LPTRP is about studying routes carefully. If we do that, we can be confident that the route will be profitable and banks will have the confidence to loan operators with the LPTRP),' he said. Source: Philippines News Agency