Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has created a special committee to address lingering issues surrounding the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), commonly known as the PUV Modernization Program, following renewed calls for review from various transport groups.
On Monday, Dizon signed Special Order No. 2025-152, formally establishing the Special Committee for the Review of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP). The move comes amid mounting concerns raised by stakeholders and operators affected by the nationwide initiative, which aims to phase out traditional jeepneys in favor of modern, environmentally-friendly vehicles.
“Sec. Dizon directed its members to consult with various stakeholders, evaluate and review status and progress, and identify issues as well as concerns of the PTMP,” the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said in a statement.
Chaired by the DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure, the committee includes the Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure, Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure, the chairman of the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC), and the assistant secretary of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
The committee is set to submit its recommendations by next week, as the department moves to assess and possibly recalibrate the modernization strategy amid pushback from drivers and operators calling for more inclusive, equitable, and financially viable solutions.
The PTMP, launched in 2017, has faced resistance some operators, drivers, and public figures who argue that the cost of upgrading to modern units is too high. Transport groups and advocates have also raised issues over the program's implementation timeline, route rationalization, and government financing schemes.
The Magnificent 7, an alliance of seven major transport groups in the Philippines, has instead advocated for the rehabilitation of traditional jeepneys for short routes rather than replacing them with modern jeepneys.