LTFRB Corruption should be addressed immediately
Senator Grace Poe believes that before pushing for the modernization of public utility vehicles (PUV), LTFRB corruption should be eliminated first.
The lawmaker asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to suspend the implementation of PUV modernization in order to address the alleged corruption that is happening in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
This call coming from the Senator came after the claim made by LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III on Monday that there is a “lagayan” or bribery scheme in acquiring franchises for PUVs and other transactions in the agency, based on the report from Inquirer.
“Hindi na nga makausad nang maayos ang PUV [modernization program] dahil sa iba’t ibang isyu, nabahiran pa ng korapsyon,” Sen. Poe said. She also pointed out that if the allegation is true, this will be unfair to drivers who lost their livelihood for not getting the favor of LTFRB if they will not pay for the “lagay.”
Modernization is a good thing. In many aspects of life, there is a need to improve, to change for the better. The PUV modernization will surely give positive outcomes to operators, drivers, and passengers in the long run.
However, how can a program or project push through and be successful if the department handling it has “termites” feeding on the fruit of the labor of hardworking drivers and operators?
Although this is just an allegation for now, this should be a warning to officials in the department to make sure that the “lagayan” will not happen.
Drivers and operators of PUVs have expressed different reactions to the modernization. Some have already started the change but there are those who still refuse to follow. This was launched in 2017 and after almost five years, there are still a lot who refuse to join the modernization program.
The DOTr aims to make the country’s public transportation system efficient and environmentally friendly. This is a good goal but the agency should also look after the drivers and operators’ capacity to follow the needed change. This requires money and it will be extra heartbreaking if their hard-earned money will just disappear in the air because of corruption, as it was alleged.
For more updates, follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram.