Senator Imee Marcos said the government should consider suspending and reviewing the PUV modernization program as the country has yet to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which also hit hard the transportation sector.
Marcos said PUV operators and drivers cannot afford the modernization program being offered by the government.
"Marami nagsasabi na walang hihindi sa bagong sasakyan pero kakayanin ba? 'Yun ang problema," Marcos said in an interview with reporters in Navotas City on Saturday.
Marcos said the PUV modernization program "should be postponed and adjusted" to fit the needs of drivers and operators.
"Wala talagang pera 'yung ating mga operators at jeepney drivers. Hindi nila kakayanin. Kaya't 'yun nga, i-postpone at siguro isaayos kung talaga bang kailangan maging kooperatiba o maging grupo sila, kasi mga solo operators 'yang mga iyan," she added.
She also stressed the need to reconsider the amount of subsidy for drivers and operators under the PUV modernization program.
"Kakarampot lang ibibigay, P80,000 ba o P160,000 ang inaalok? Wala bang pagpalit 'yung sa luma tapos idagdag na lang sa cost nung bago?," she asked.
Marcos had previously noted the short supply of modernized jeepneys, with the available units only less than five percent of around 170,000 jeepney drivers.
The PUVMP consolidation deadline has been moved from December 2021 to June 2022, then to March 2023, June 2023 and 31 December 2023.