MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Magandang araw, Malacañang Press Corps, and welcome sa ating press briefing this Monday, January 15.

Based on the latest data of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board or LTFRB, the PUV Modernization Plan of the government has already achieved 76.6% consolidation rate for jeepneys. The LTFRB has given a one-month transition period for the consolidation until January 31, 2024.

Meanwhile, transport groups have again threatened to mount a rally tomorrow to protest the consolidation program.

To give us more updates on the PUV Modernization Program and the agencies response to the upcoming protest, we have here today LTFRB Chair Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III; Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chair Andy Ortega; MMDA Chair Romando Artes; and Atty. Zona Russet Tamayo, Regional Director of LTFRB. Good morning, gentlemen and Atty.

Okay, let’s start with Chairperson Guadiz.

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Good morning, everybody. We are here to clarify the issues that hound the PUV Modernization Program especially those raised in the recent congressional hearing.

The Department of Transportation, through the LTFRB and the Office of Transport Cooperatives, is determined to implement the program. Its benefits far outweighed the misunderstood program flows. But we will continue to calibrate its components in response to the clamor of the stakeholders as we have done since the inception of the program. We will remain focused on the program’s primary beneficiaries, the commuters. We believe that overcoming the program’s challenges will lead in dramatic transformation in our public transport system. So we ask for the understanding of everyone and their cooperation and, as well as, the program’s different stakeholders. Thank you.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you, sir. Let’s hear from the MMDA Chairman.

MMDA CHAIRPERSON ARTES: Yes, good morning. We understand that it’s not a tigil-pasada but merely a protest by the two transport groups. But just the same, we are ready to respond. We will monitor the situation as early as 5 A.M. tomorrow. And in case there is a disruption in the public transportation system, we will augment; we are ready. We already notified the various LGUs to be prepared. And the MMDA itself is preparing for any eventuality tomorrow.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you. At this moment, we can open the room to questions for our panel. Maricel Halili, TV 5.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Magandang umaga po. Clarification, because I understand, 27 months po, tama ba, sir, iyong kailangang ibigay para maisakatupuran na talaga iyong modernization per unit? What does it mean? Paano po natin tutukuyin iyong mga hindi nakasama doon sa consolidation?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Ma’am, iyong hong 27 months na binibigay ho natin ay para ho doon sa mga nag-consolidate, not for those who have not consolidated because we already made the deadline last December 31 so the focus now would be for those who have already embraced the program of the PUVMP by filing their consolidation. We will focus on helping them convert their units into a more environment friendly in the OFG and the Philippine National Standard Compliant Unit.

So iyong 28 months po na iyon would be enough time for them to upgrade their units, but at the same time, hindi ho natin niri-require sa kanila na one time ang kanilang pagpapalit po ng sasakyan, but given this period and certain percentages along the way on how they can upgrade their units.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Pero, ma’am, ano po iyong mangyayari doon sa mga dyip na hindi naging kasama sa consolidation? After January 31, ano po iyon, huhulihin? Hindi na agad papayagan na bumiyahe?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Ganito po, we have to put it in the proper context at least for Metro Manila po ‘no. The government has already issued that December 31 is the deadline to consolidate and the LTFRB Board has already issued appropriate circular stating that for those who have not consolidated, tinitingnan ho natin itong first part of January, iyong routes whether it’s 60% consolidated or less than 60% or no consolidation at all. This we’re doing for January. And then, once po na nakita natin at mayroon na pong ilalabas na datos po ang LTFRB for that on the routes pertaining to the percentage of consolidation, then we’d move to the next stage which is iyon hong hindi nag-consolidate will no longer be allowed to run the routes, except po if as we see, as we analyze po, there might be the need.

But sa ngayon ho, for those who have not consolidated by February 1, they will no longer be allowed to ply the routes.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Cresilyn Catarong.

CRESILYN CATARONG/SMNI: Good morning po. Ano po iyong mga nakahandang tulong ng pamahalaan para sa mga tsuper ng dyip na mawawalan ng pagkakakitaan po dahil sa PUV modernization? At ilan po iyong PUJ operators at drivers na mawawalan ng trabaho dahil sa programa?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Ma’am, I’d like to put that po on a different perspective. I’ll be stating data po based on NCR po ito ‘no. Sa datos po, the data we have in NCR would say that we have provided around 40,000—PUJs po ito ‘no—units their respective franchises, noon ho ‘no. But when we extracted the data, of the 42,642 PUJ units that were given franchise, for the year 2023, twenty-two thousand two hundred eighty-four lang po ang currently registered. So hindi ho lahat ng binigyan ng prangkisa ay nagparehistro for the year 2023.

We looked further po, for the year 2022, there are around 21,136 PUJ units that registered. Now, there’s the possibility that they did not register in 2022 but they registered in 2023. So we looked further and we’re able to derive that for two consecutive years, meaning 2022 and 2023, there were around 21,042 units that have confirmed—I’m sorry, that had failed to confirm. So out of the 42,642 units that were given franchise, 43% hindi na ho nag-register for the past two years. Taking this data, out of the …those who have registered for 2023, which is 22,284, twenty-one thousand six hundred fifty-five of these registered units or 97.18% of those who registered for 2023 have actually filed for consolidation.

So tinitingnan ho natin, 97.18% of the registered units for PUJs for 2023 have actually consolidated already. So, iyon po ang tinitingnan din natin na kaunti lang po three percent or less than three percent lang ho sa rehistradong mga PUJ’s ang hindi nag-consolidate, that’s for NCR po.

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Iyong tungkol sa soft support ‘no, there are two agencies that will help DOTr and those drivers and operators who did not consolidate this is through the EnTSUPERneur program that’s by DOLE and the Tsuper Iskolar by TESDA. So, we’ve improved the program instead of end—I mean instead of ‘or’ puwede ngayon i-avail iyong dalawang programa ng gobyerno, so they could avail the program set by DOLE and by TESDA these are—those that are affected either drivers or operators especially those na hindi na consolidate, so iyon ‘yung programs of the government for them.

OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank, you Gerg Cahiles, CNN.

GERG CAHILES/ CNN: Good morning po. Attorney, you mentioned na for the past two years 2022-2023 around 21,000 did not confirm, pero ibig sabihin po ba hindi sila bumiyahe, because they can still ply kaya lang hindi sila nahuhuli. So, kasi parang—kung ang comparison is iyong nag-register versus doon sa consolidate parang hindi yata siya tama din, kasi most probably bumiyahe sila without their registration?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: That’s possibility. But in terms of analyzing po iyong data, of course, we have based din doon sa talagang nagrehistro at legal na dapat tumakbo sa kalsada.

GERG CAHILES/ CNN: Anyway, ma’am, another thing is, sabi po ng LTFRB ay magbibigay sila ng special permits for those vehicles na kukulangin iyong mga sasakyan. Kaya bang punuan po iyong kakulangan, given na medyo malaki pa iyong percentage? Sabi ninyo 70 plus percent iyong nag-consolidate, so may 30 plus pa, around 30% pang hindi nagko-consolidate, mapupunuan po ba ng specials permits? Thank you.

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: I’d like to go beyond po doon 70-30 percent because we have to consider if iyong 70% would already be sufficient. I’m speaking for NCR po. When we mapped out the routes in NCR, majority po ng ating main thoroughfares ay may nag-consolidate or may mag-o-operate na transport, public transport po. It’s in other modes perhaps buses, UVs and even jeepneys.

So, when we mapped out iyong mga routes that have consolidated, we strongly believe that there will be no problem in terms of public transport. However, in case nga po mayroon ‘no, of course, we have to have that contingency plans as well.

Right now, as mentioned po ng ating Chair sa MMDA, we have coordinated po with MMDA as well as with different LGUs in case, in case that there would be need. But right now po, we’ve mapped out for NCR and we already determined that there will be sufficient supply po.

GERG CAHILES/CNN: Ma’am, just to clarify. Ma’am, sorry. Iyong 70% na binabanggit ninyo iyon ‘yung threshold ninyo kung nakapag-consolidate siya, hindi kakailanganin pang i-extend for …like routes na…

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: It’s not a threshold; the 72% is the percentage of consolidation nationwide.

GERG CAHILES/ CNN: Okay, but you are mentioning earlier about ia-assess ninyo pa eh, iyong January. So what’s the threshold na para sabihin na [unclear]

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: We are trying to look because right now, initially po, iyong for NCR, the routes that have no consolidation at all are what we consider as short distance routes. But this short distance routes, mayroon din ho kasing a longer route that can cover these short distances. That’s why we’re not just basing our analysis on mere numbers na 70%, 30, hindi po ganoon. It’s more of really mapping out the routes and determining if mayroong route na kahit walang nag-consolidate ay mayroon naman hong sasalo na existing route then, na mayroon din naman hong nag-consolidate.

OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you. Eden Santos, Net25.

EDEN SANTOS /NET25: [no audio]

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: … DOTr for that matter, any brand a merely accredit manufacturers and the accreditation is done by several government agencies, among them is DTI. And if then, if the jeepneys conform with Philippine national standards, we will put them in the list and then bahala na po iyong mga operators na mamimili kung alin po ang kukunin nilang jeep.

Number two, hindi po totoong pagkamamahal. May mga jeepney po the standard price is about 1.2 to 1.3 million. Kapag dinagdag mo pa diyan iyong 230,000 na government equity, maliit na lang po iyong babayaran buwan-buwan ng mga driver who are given seven years to pay the entire balance.

EDEN SANTOS /NET25: Isa po sa problema rin ng mga tsuper ano po, iyong kahit gusto nilang bumili ng modern jeep, ang problema wala silang means dahil—lalo na iyong mga nasa short route na magkano lang naman po ang kinikita ‘no—wala pong nagpapautang na sa kanila or hindi sila puwedeng umutang sa bangko, papaano po sila matutulungan. And mayroon pong report from sa isang congressman, may 30 transport cooperatives and corporation po iyong nagkaroon ng problema sa financial at parang hindi na po sila pinapautang ng LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Unang-una po, iyon tungkol sa pagpili ng mga pagbili ng mga sasakyan, hindi po driver and bibili ng sasakyan or operator; nakaraan na po iyon. Ang consolidation, ang ibig sabihin po, sumama na siya sa kooperatiba. So isang kooperatiba, you could be as a minimum of 15 or some kooperatiba hundreds po iyan 300, 400.

Ang bibili po ng sasakyan na modern that will take time pa from now, ang kooperatiba. So, sila po ay sama-samang bibili; sila po ay sama-samang magdesisyon kung anong sasakyan ang pipiliin nila. At hindi po iyon isang miyembro or iyong dating driver or iyong driver ang bibili; kooperatiba po ang bibili.

Also, ‘pag bumili po sila sa class two, ito po iyong jeep ‘no, mayroon pong equity subsidy of 280,000. Noong nakaraang panahon, it was 80, naging 160 dahil sa utos ng ating secretary, Secretary Bautista, na-raise na po natin sa 280,000 ang equity subsidy bawat unit. And kung titingnan po natin ang Kongreso, ngayon there are pending bills sa congress, kay Congressman Salceda, kay Congresswoman Bautista-Lim, there’s a pending bill doon that could help a lot iyon ating mga jeep, iyon ating mga kooperatiba. Even in the Senate, mayroon pending bill kay Senator Poe.

So, ang sitwasyon po natin is ganito, lahat po ng gustong tumulong sa PUVMP especially iyong presyo ng sasakyan, lahat po iyan ay naghihintay for the past years because laging nadi-delay ang consolidation, nag-extend. Ngunit dahil sa administrasyon na ito, dahil kay Presidente Marcos, naging firmed po siya sa desisyon dahil kita niya ang numero, kita po niya ang pangangailangan that’s why nag-decide to have that deadline firm.

Since the deadline po, marami na pong lumalabas na gustong tumulong na manufacturers, banks, Congress, Senado lahat po iyan ay they’ve stand up na dahil alam nila na tuloy na ang programa. So, lahat po ng mga magagandang tulong na ibibigay ng different sectors, parating na po because the program is 100% go and ang gobyerno po ay seryoso. Ito po ay para sa ating mananakay.

EDEN SANTOS /NET25: Last na lang po doon sa route, ruta po ano. Ilang percent na po iyong na-rationalize sa NCR lang po muna para hindi masyadong malawak?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Ma’am, iyong rationalization po ng routes sa NCR ay hindi ho magagawa na NCR lamang ang titingnan. That’s why what we have is the … what we call the MUCEP area. This would involve NCR routes, as well as, the routes in nearby provinces that are entering Metro Manila so hindi ho natin nira-rationalize na entirely NCR lang po ‘no.

So kasama po diyan iyong mga ruta ng Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite na pumapasok po sa NCR. Right now po, because previously po, when we launched the program in 2017, there was supposed to be this route rationalization study. But, it was hampered because of the pandemic, since the one that was tapped to do the rationalization study could not proceed because of, hindi ho magiging credible iyong supply and demand side during those, the fears of the pandemic.

So, right now po, DOTr is crafting po with the financing po, in order for this rationalization study for the MUCEP area to continue in the next years.

HARLEY VALBUENA/DZME: Hello, good morning po, itanong ko lang po. Ano po iyong proof na kailangang ipakita noong nag-consolidate na PUV drivers and operators or that they need to show para po mapayagan pa rin silang makabiyahe come February 1? So, how do we segregate the consolidated ones from those who have not consolidated.

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Iyon pong drivers at operators po, we have made already the issuance and instructed them that, sa pamamasada po nila, they are supposed to have with them their current registration with the LTO as well as a copy of their application that their unit is included in their application for consolidation. Kasi mayroon naman po silang received copy of their application. So, kailangan po naka-attach po iyong application and the current registration po.

ALLAN FRANCISCO/PTV 4: Magandang umaga po. Gaya ng sabi ni Sir Ortega kanina, passengers will primarily benefit from this modernization. Sir, for the sake of our viewers, paki-explain nga, sir paano makikinabang iyong mga mananakay, please.

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ: Unang-una ang laki po ng deperensya kapag ikaw ay sumakay sa isang modern vehicle, meaning iyong standards po ay nai-angat, mas safe po iyon. Ang sakayan, babaan po ay nasa side as compared siya sa likod. Mas marami pong aksidente kapag nasa likod po iyong bumababa. Pangalawa, convenient wise, halos nakatayo ka sa loob, kaysa ngayon, nakayuko po kayo. Pangalawa, mas maluwang po iyong nasa loob as compared to the present. And then, siyempre po sa engine is at least Euro 4, so that’s environmental-friendly. Malaki po ang tulong noon sa ating kapaligiran. And then, another convenience po is, aircon po iyan. So, tag-ulan or tag-araw pareho po iyong mararamdaman ninyo, not like now, you will feel the difference po. And then, also, hindi lang po natin ito makikita pa ngayon, but definitely makikita, may proper dispatching po or fleet management ang isang kooperatiba dito sa modernization. Instead na iyong sasakyan, noon lumang panahon po, is depende sa operator, ayaw niyang bumiyahe sa rush hour dahil matrapik, ayaw niyang bumiyahe sa gabi, dahil siya po ay natutulog. So, what happens to our mga BPO, iyong mga umuuwi ng hatinggabi, they are forced to take taxis na mas mahal dahil walang jeep. But with proper dispatching po, 24 hours po dapat ilabas iyong sasakyan, hindi po isang driver, tatlong drivers po iyan, tatlong shift po iyan, so what does it mean, reliable po ang sasakyan natin ngayon sa murang halaga as compared to taxis wherein you could see these vehicles 24 hours po. Iyon po iyong epekto dito, napakalaking epekto po iyon sa nararamdaman natin for the past decades.

ALLAN FRANCISCO/PTV 4: Ma’am, pahabol lang kay Sir Artes. Have you had any dialogue with those two groups na magpo-protest bukas?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Wala pa po, pero kami naman ay nakikipag-ugnayan naman doon naman doon sa mga hindi sasama sa protesta, dahil mas importante po iyon para malaman namin kung ano po iyong posibleng mga ruta na maapektuhan, kung sana pino-preposition po natin iyong atin pong augmentation. Dahil unang-una, hindi po natin, indiscriminately dini-dispatch iyong mga libreng sakay, dahil makaka-agaw po ito noong mga hindi sumasama sa protesta or sa tigil-pasada. Na kung gagawin po natin iyon, mawawalan po sila ng kita. So kaya po itong mga sasakyan na ito ay pine-preposition lamang po natin, kung saan po maaaring magkaroon ng disruption sa public transport.

TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Good morning po. susugan ko lang po iyong kay Harley, kanina kung papaano ninyo matutukoy kung iyong jeep na pumapasada ay nakapag-consolidate na at legal na bumibiyahe doon sa mga jeep na bawal lang pumasada. Sabi ninyo magdadala ng kopya ng application nila, application nila for consolidation. Pero, Ma’am, mahirap yatang gawin na paparahin mo iyong jeep, habang siya ay pumapasada para hanapan po ng papel. So, anong sistema po ang ipatutupad ninyo na agaran, para ma-distinguish kung iyon ba ay nagpa-consolidate o hindi, hindi naman natin pupuwedeng parahin bawat jeep, hindi po ba?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Tayo po ay nakikipag-ugnayan po sa LTO, because the enforcement po on the road will be done by our LTO po, hindi po sa LTFRB. Pangalawa po, we have also been coordinating with MMDA para rin ho, ma-inform din po ang ating mga LGUs. LTFRB will be posting po the list of routes in our website for reference din po ng ating mga LGUs on the ground, so that they will know kung sino po, ano po ang ruta na may consolidated entities. This way, initially you can without po iyong mga –those have not consolidated. But again po, tama po kayo, mahirap po talaga, that is why we are coordinating po with LTO on how to do it, how to implement this on that ground.

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Magdadagdag lang pa ako, Ma’am, kaya nga po binigyan natin ng isang buwan na due process po iyong mga operators na hindi na po papayagang pumasada. Binigyan po natin sila ng pagkakataon, proseso para po kusa na po tayong sumunod sa batas o sa prangkisa mo, kung wala na for us to prevent any situation po starting February 1. Kung napapansin po ninyo iyong DOTr family, were very careful with our words, we are very careful in our handling, because alam nating emosyonal po ang sitwasyon natin ngayon. That’s why ang mga ipinaparating po namin ngayon ay solusyon, programa, para po sundin natin na iyong batas and we would like to assure na iyong desisyon po ng hindi pagko-consolidate was a business decision po, in a way ng mga operators. Desisyon po nila iyon, wala po tayong magagawa doon. Ang pokus ngayon ng gobyerno are the drivers, iyong drivers po natin, wala sa kanila ang decision ng operator. Kung ayaw ng operator, wala silang trabaho. That is why ang pokus po ng DOTr ngayon is to
help the drivers, para po sila ay bigyan ng pag-asang lumipat sa mga kooperatiba or korporasyon para magkatrabaho at tuloy ang kanilang paghahanapbuhay. So, iyon po iyong approach ng DOTr.

JEAN MANGALUZ/INQ. NET: You recently, debunk that there won’t be a 50 pesos surge in fares. But can you please clarify, if it is possible a magkaka-surge fare nga and how much would it be?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Yeah, iyong tungkol po sa sabi nila P30, P40, P50 in five years, wala pong basehan iyon. Six years ago, noon nagsimula ang modernization, ang isang traditional jeep, ay naniningil ng P9 minimum fare may modern jeep na po noon, six years ago, ang singil po noon was P11. So, there was P2 difference between traditional and modern. Fast forward, six years, last year, 2023. Ang traditional minimum fare was P13, ang modern P15, which is still at present. So, iyong dalawang libong difference ng traditional at modern ay hindi nagbago. But, if you look at the percentage mas bumaba pa nga, from P9 to P11, P13 to P15. Ngayon, ang sinasabi nila in five years, magiging P30, P40, P50. Ano ang basehan noon, wala. Ang basehan lamang po ng fare is about fuel increase iyong krudo. And function po iyan ng LTRFB, pinakikinggan po niya nag mga commuters, ang mga transpo sector, iyong umaabot pa po sa NEDA at dumarating po ang kanilang desisyon. So, iyong basehan po or sinasabi nilang P50, totally has no basis po.

JEAN MANGALUZ/INQ. NET: How long po ninyo nakikita na magme-maintain sa P15 iyong fare for modern jeepneys?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: We would like to clarify that the determination, while it’s LTFRB that is mandated to set the minimum fare and the succeeding kilometers, we have to consider that coming up with that decision is not only an LTFRB responsibility. Kaya po we have to coordinate with NEDA because we all know that transport cost would have that effect even in terms of inflation po, that is why we are very careful in determining fares and we have to really seek guidance din po with NEDA so that we will have holistic approach po, because hindi po namin kaya from LTFRB na kami lang po iyong nagde-determine. And in the past years, in determining po transport fares, any adjustment whether itaas or ibaba po ito is a large portion of that would come from any fuel adjustments din po. So, right now, iyong sinasabi in five years, as mentioned po ni Chair Andy wala po talagang basehan, because we are still looking into it and again, if I may emphasize with the proper guidance din po na binibigay sa amin ng NEDA.

JEAN MANGALUZ/INQUIRER.NET: Pero iyong pagbili po mismo ng jeep, may expenses pa rin po on the part of the driver which will be passed down to the commuters?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Na-explain po. Hindi ho drivers kasi ang magbabayad ho. Hindi ho drivers ang maglo-loan. In fact, under a consolidated entity, they are already cooperatives or corporations, mas nai-institutionalize po natin iyong employer-employee relationship between the cooperatives and their drivers. So si driver po, salary-based po siya so hindi ho siya ang mamumroblema ng pagbabayad po ng loan.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Alvin Baltazar, Radyo Pilipinas.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Sirs, magandang umaga po. Sir, puwede pong banggitin kung ano iyong possible sanction doon sa mga traditional jeepneys na hindi nagpa-register sa consolidation? Will they be impounded?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Dalawa ho ang tinitingnan ho natin. As I’ve mentioned po early on, doon ho sa mga nakarehistro for 2023, iilan na lang ho rito – less than a thousand – ang hindi ho nag-consolidate. So dalawa ho ang titingnan: hindi lang ho iyong usapin whether you’ve applied for consolidation or not but it’s basic ho, are you registered for the current year or not – that’s one thing. Siyempre ho, we all know, if you’re not registered for the year… then you’re not supposed to ply your route ‘di po ba?

So, as I’ve mentioned earlier, we have to coordinate ho and we are coordinating with LTO on this. Kasi po for LTO din, ang tinitingnan ho nila would be the registration of the unit – if they are currently registered or not, iyon ang tinitingnan natin. Because nga po, as I’ve mentioned, at least for NCR… there’s only less than a thousand registered vehicles that have not consolidated.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Pero kung hindi, ma’am, ano iyong possible sanction?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Titingnan ho natin kung talagang hindi siya nakarehistro, then there’s a sanction for that – may penalties po tayo diyan. Kapag naman ho hindi rin siya naka-consolidate, then may penalties din po diyan under the JAO which is being implemented or will be implemented by LTO.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Kay Sir Jess. Follow up ko lang, sir, doon sa benefits kanina noong tinanong ni Allan, benefits daw sa mga mananakay. Ano naman ang benefits doon sa mga drivers noong papasada noong ano…?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Ay, salamat po sa tanong ninyo. Kasi ang driver natin, tapos na po iyong relasyon ng driver-operator – they now become a member of cooperative. Sabi nga po, unang-una, once naging full na po iyong kooperatiba… salary-based na po iyong mga drivers natin – may overtime po iyon ‘pag lumagpas ng eight hours, tapos sila po magmi-member na ng SSS, Pag-IBIG at saka PhilHealth. So, ang mga drivers po ngayon ay para nang empleyado po sa Makati or sa Cubao ‘no.

Tapos po as member ng coop, may dibidendo rin po iyon ‘no, may dibidendo po. Tapos ‘pag ang diver po ay naging member ng kooperatiba, para na rin siyang operator – pare-pareho na sila, once voice, one vote; puwede na po siyang maging chairman ng isang kooperatiba. So, malaki po ang difference ng isang driver before as compared to now.

At just to add po, hindi po siya puwede maging transpo-cooperative – puwede po silang lumaki, maging multipurpose cooperative pa po so maraming opportunities pong papasok sa kanila.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Sir, in terms of income, magkano probably iyong daily income na pupuwede niyang maiuwi sa…?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Ang income po, kasi when you say minimum wage… pasensiya na, I cannot really be competent sa pag-answer – siguro P600 more or less ‘no. So definitely po, ang katotohanan is that iyong kanilang income as compared to before, it could be almost the same, but the benefits po iyong malaking epekto dito. And also, habang tumatagal po iyong kooperatiba, they’ll gain more benefits from the kooperatiba as compared noong ang relasyon po nila lamang noon ay jeepney driver and operator po.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Sam Medenilla…

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR: Sir, balik lang po ako doon sa question po ni Jean kanina. Automatic po ba puwedeng ipasa ng mga cooperatives iyong expenses nila for the purchase noong modern e-jeepneys doon sa mga commuters or idadaan pa rin nila for application for fare hiking?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Yeah, magandang tanong po. Isagot ko na po ‘no. Ang pinag-uusapan po lately like your question now is the expense sa isang modern vehicle, etcetera, etcetera could have an effect sa minimum fare, ganoon po iyon. As per info nga kanina po, ang modern vehicle was here already 2017. So iyong question po ng expense sa isang modern vehicle nangyari na po since 2017 at hindi po humingi ang mga gumagamit ng modern vehicle ng extra minimum fare because of the usage of the modern vehicle.

Ngayon, siguro sasabihin ninyo 2017, one million plus lang po iyong modern vehicle – ngayon is two million plus. So, even now… even with two million plus iyong iba nating modern vehicle, wala rin pong hinihinging extra na increase ang mga gumagamit ng modern vehicle. So, kung titingnan po natin based on 2017 up to the present, iyong two-peso difference from the traditional, parang all-in na po iyon… considered na po lahat ng expenses and they’ve never asked any rate outside of it because it already is incorporated po sa kanilang pagpapatakbo.

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR: Sir, in case na gusto po nila, automatic po ba puwede nilang ipasa or mag-a-apply pa rin sila?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Any adjustment in fare whether ho pataas o reduction po, dadaan ho talaga sa LTFRB because hindi ho pupuwede na sila lang ho ang magdedesisyon. Kami ho sa LTFRB ang magsasabi ho kung ano ang minimum fare po at ano ang percentage of increase per succeeding kilometers.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you. Katrina Domingo…

KATRINA DOMINGO/ABS-CBN: Good morning po. So far po, how may special permits have you already issued to those who will be allowed to ply routes that have low consolidation numbers?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Ma’am, right now for NCR, we still did not issue any special permits, primarily because sabi ko nga ho earlier is that we’re looking at the whole map po of NCR routes kung kakailanganin ho ba talaga ng dagdag na units doon sa mga hindi nag-consolidate. Because initially, what we saw was that most of those routes that have not consolidated at all, iyong zero percentage po ng consolidation are short distance routes.

KATRINA DOMINGO/ABS-CBN: Ma’am, in areas outside Metro Manila, ilan na po iyong special permits?

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Yes. For areas outside Manila, for now we have not yet issued special permits but we are looking into it until the end of this week kung may mga areas na kakailanganin pong tugunan at isyuhan ng special permits.

KATRINA DOMINGO/ABS-CBN: Follow up lang po. Until how long po valid iyong special permit? Is it a month? Two months and is it subject to renewal ‘pag po dumating iyong period of expiration niya?

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Ang special permit po is set by the board. Normally it would last… like sa mga—kung napansin ninyo, December, may mga peak season – we give permits for as high as 15 days but it can go as much as months, depende po sa pangangailangan po ng isang ruta.

KATRINA DOMINGO/ABS-CBN: Last follow up, sorry po. In the event po na mag-issue na ng special permits for select routes, how do you actually encourage drivers plying those routes to hasten their applications for consolidation considering that they have this option to apply for special permits?

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Ma’am, in so far as consolidation is concerned, tapos na po iyong period of consolidation. So, iyong mga mag-a-apply po ng special permits, iyon pong mga consolidated routes—I mean, consolidated entities po ang bibigyan po ng priority to run over areas po na kukulangin kung mayroon man ng mga sasakyan.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you. Ann Soberano, Bombo Radyo.

ANN SOBERANO/BOMBO RADYO: Good afternoon po. Kay Chairman Artes. Sir, since bukas may rally naman ang ilang grupo ng transport group. Sir, will you still be recommending po ba sa mga LGUs na magpatupad po ng suspension of classes kapag may mga rally pong ganito?

MMDA CHAIRPERSON ARTES: Well, noong nakaraan po na mayroon pang expressed declaration ng tigil-pasada, hindi po tayo nagrekomenda ng suspension ng klase or ng trabaho dahil nga po tayo naman ay nakahanda to augment kung sakaling magkaroon ng disruption sa pampublikong transportasyon. At we will make sure, tulad ng dati, na ma-minimize iyon pong discomfort at inconvenience sa ating mga mananakay.

So sabi nga po ni Chair Andy at saka ni Chair Guadiz, paulit-ulit na po iyong rally, nasanay na po kami na rumesponde. So handa po kami at gagawin po ulit namin iyon. At siguro naman po, na-observe ninyo noong mga nakaraang protesta or tigil-pasada na wala pong masyadong nagreklamo na sila po ay na-stranded dahil nakaresponde naman po tayo nang maayos, ang pamahalaan.

ANALY SOBERANO/BOMBO RADYO: Kay Chairman Guadiz, last na po. Sir, kuha lang po ako ng comment ninyo. May mga allegation po kasi, sir, na parang may ano raw, may anomalya or kontrobersiya dito sa implementation ng PUV Modernization. Ano po ang take ninyo dito, sir? Thank you.

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Ang comment po namin, unang-una po, during my term as the chairman po, ang focus po namin dito ay consolidation muna. Ini-encourage namin iyong mga jeepney operators na magsama-sama. So wala po kaming nakikitang anomalya kapag pakiusapan mo ang isang operator na sumama at makisanib sa isang kooperatiba.

Ang posible pong sinasabi nilang anomalya ay doon po sa pagpili ng mga sasakyan na in our time, wala pa naman ho kaming ganiyang proyekto and ang pagpili po ng sasakyan ay nasa mga kooperatiba po. Wala po kaming impluwensiya kung anuman po ang piliin nila, kung iyong pagkamura-murang mga 1.2 million or iyong pagkamahal-mahal na 2.4 million po. It is purely a business decision po.

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Dagdagan ko lang po. Ako iyong mismong chairman ng OTC, every time may meeting forum kami since ten months na po ako rito, inuunahan ko na sila – wala akong impluwensiya; hindi ako magsasabi; nasa kamay ninyo iyan. But they should be responsible in choosing the right product dahil napakaimportante po niyan.

So sabi nga ni Chair Guadiz, sa administrasyon na ito, wala po kaming kamay kahit ano po in influencing them in buying whatever vehicle na gusto po nila.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you. Betheena Unite.

BETHEENA UNITE/MANILA BULLETIN: Good morning po. There is a claim po that the President was misinformed daw po about the real situation in the ground amid the implementation of the PUVMP po. Any comment, sir?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Ako na lang po ang sasagot kasi kasama po ako noong pumunta kami sa Pangulo noong December 12. Unang-una po, days before and even a day before we met the President, updated po iyong binigay naming listahan sa kanila. Nationwide, per mode, per region po, nakalagay po lahat. Utos ni Secretary Bautista, we should be transparent in all the information that we have to give, at ginawa po namin iyon.

Noong umupo kami sa harap ng Pangulo, kitang-kita po namin sa kaniyang demeanor, sa kaniyang mata, the confidence tungkol sa programa. He knows the numbers. He knows about the program. And he was very confident in saying, hindi na tayo mag-i-extend. And he was still saying sa dulo, tulungan pa natin ang ating mga drivers, mga kooperatiba to improve further iyong programa. At sinabi rin po niya, kailangan na natin ito ibigay sa ating mga mananakay, sa mga commuters.

So iyong tungkol po na misleading or anything negative, wala po, hindi po iyon nangyari and alam na alam po ng Pangulo ang tungkol sa programa.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay, thank you. Krizel Insigne.

KRIZEL ISIGNE/IBC13: Nasabi ninyo po kanina na in 27 months, iyon po iyong transition period. So within 27 or to 28 months, wala na po bang makikitang traditional jeepney po?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Sana po ‘no because, of course, iyong hong capacity for them to upgrade their units po ay tinitingnan at nagiging considerate naman po ang DOTr dito. Pero sa ngayon po, we have to set that schedule po so that we can move forward and guide our consolidated entities kung papaano po nila mapapalitan or ia-upgrade po iyong kanilang units.

Now, within that 27 months po na tinitingnan natin, if there would be adjustments that would be necessary, then open naman po ang DOTr para dito. Pero nga po sa ngayon, we have to set that timeline po for them.

KRIZEL ISIGNE/IBC13: How about po iyong less than 8,000 po na hindi pa po nakapag-consolidate and sabi ninyo po, end na po ng registration period, makakapag-consolidate pa rin ba sila?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Ma’am, ganito po ‘no, iyon hong consolidation is different from the registration po ‘no. Iyon hong sa consolidation, kailangan ho naka-rehistro. But as far as consolidation is concerned, noon hong December 31 po iyong ating deadline for that.

Now, ngayon po, alam ho ng ating mga may sasakyan, whether private po iyan or public, na kailangan po talaga ay currently registered po sila for them to use our streets.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Time for a few more questions. Let’s go back to Tuesday Niu.

TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Hi, sir. To Chairman Ortega, sir. I wonder, sir, kung natugunan iyong isyu na mga drivers na, halimbawa, gustong sumali sa consolidation pero, sabi ninyo nga kanina, iyong mga benefits nilatag ninyo na more than 60 years old na, papaano po iyon, hindi na po sila puwede sa SSS dahil overaged na sila or maximum na iyong age nila? Papaano sila makakakuha ngayon ng ganoong benefits?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Tama po iyon ‘no kasi ang mga drivers po natin ngayon ay iba-ibang klaseng edad po ‘no. Ang priority po namin ngayon is sila ay makapasok sa kooperatiba. Wala namang age requirement pumasok sa kooperatiba so puwede silang pumasok, iyong mga senior na, ika nga.

Pangalawa, pagmamaneho, wala pong age limit ang mga kooperatiba sa drivers nila. Mayroon pong mga more than 60 years old, so okay pa po iyon dahil as long as you driver’s license, physically fit, okay lang po iyon. So siguro po, tama po kayo, iyong certain benefits normally na natatanggap ng SSS, hindi na nga po sila kasama. So siguro po hindi perpekto iyong matatanggap ng ating mga senior citizens, pero mayroon pa rin po at saka tuloy pa rin po iyong trabaho nila.

In fact, I’ve contacted the coops today para talagang isigurado ko na tuluy-tuloy iyong pagtatanggap nila, pagkukonek nila doon sa mga drivers na hindi na po magmamaneho sa kanilang dating operator.

TUESDAY NIU: Mayroon po ba, halimbawa, instead of SSS, may ibang incentives sila na puwedeng ibigay sa kanila?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Unang-una, Pag-IBIG, puwede pa po sila doon; PhilHealth, kasama—mas importante siguro sa kanila dahil senior, iyong PhilHealth. So mayroon pa ring programang mapapakinabangan iyong mga senior citizens na magiging drivers po ng kooperatiba. Mayroon pa rin po.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Maricar Sargan, Brigada News.

MARICAR SARGAN/BRIGADA NEWS: Good afternoon po. Kay Sir Ortega. Sir, may kaso na po ba ng mga kooperatiba na hindi po nakapagbayad ng loan sa kinuha nilang modern jeepney? And if ever mayroon po, anong mangyayari sa mga units, sa ruta at saka sa mga drivers?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Unang-una, sa Kongreso, tinanong po ni Congressman Acop iyong LandBank. Tinanong po niya tungkol sa hindi updated or arrears po ‘no. Out of, I think, a hundred forty plus na mga kooperatiba na mayroong loan sa LandBank, lima ang hindi updated. So five out of 150 plus po iyon ‘no. Kahit maliit po iyong numero, concerned naman po tayo.

So ang maganda po dito na maitutulong namin sa kanila is, mayroon pong increase ng equity subsidy po ng gobyerno. From 160 to 280, so iyong lima na iyon, kung kasama sila doon sa increase ng subsidy, so magkakaroon sila ng certain amount para makatulong sa kanilang loan. Also, ang mangyayari po dito is, parang magkakaroon kami ng meeting with our GIFs kung ano pa ang puwede nating maitulong sa mga nag-a-arrears or hindi updated para po maalalayan natin sila.

But definitely po, parang on the part of the government, we really have to help them para po mas tumibay pa iyong kanilang financial situation in terms of kanilang loans at iyong mga bayarin po.

MARICAR SARGAN/BRIGADA NEWS: So wala pong magiging sanction, sir?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Sa gobyerno po, wala pong sanction. It is really between the coop and the banks. That’s why gigitna po ang DOTr para po matulungan po iyong kanilang sitwasyon.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you. Ivan Mayrina, GMA7

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Isang mabilis na clarification lamang. Noong una ang sinasabi hong number ay 30,000 daw ang mga dyip na mawawala sa kalye, mga hindi nag-consolidate, at iyon daw ang mababawas sa magsiserbisyo sa mga pasahero. But now you are saying, 97% of registered PUJs have actually consolidated, so less than 1,000 lang po ang mawawala sa kalye. Tama po bang numero ito?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Based po sa mga nakarehistro, yes, less than 1,000 lang ho ang hindi nag-consolidate na currently registered.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: So ito hong numerong ito, does it reflect doon sa extent ng disruption na nangyayari kapag sila po ay nagtitigil-pasada?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Sir, as mentioned po ni Chair Artes po dito, doon po sa mga nakaraan, wala naman po tayong nakitang disruption, even if they have already declared tigil-pasada in the past. We are able to see po on the ground, at least for NCR po, that there are sufficient public transport po noong mga panahon na sila po ay mismong nagdeklara ng tigil-pasada.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA NEWS: So, is this a message to the transport groups to give it up, it’s a lost cause, tama po ba?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Sir, what we are trying to promote really is the program, the PUVMP, because ang focus po natin is the commuters, the daily commuters po on the ground. It’s about time that we have to upgrade the kind of transport services that we are offering to the commuting public. Doon po tayo nakatuon sa iba’t ibang components po ng PUVMP.

ALLAN FRANCISCO/PTV 4: Sirs, Ma’am. I am actually visualizing what might happened on February 1, bilang pasahero, paano malalaman na consolidated iyong masasakyan kung pahihintuin siya baka maabala, Sir, Ma’am, iyong pasahero? Pabababain po ba?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: Yeah, bago sila sumagot, kaya nga parang gusto naming iparating, iyong talagang for everybody to really follow, what should be followed. Kaya very careful and DOTr in really handling the situation, para kusa na nga sila mismong hindi bibiyahe, because we could just imagine iyong epekto nito sa mananakay, epekto nito sa kanilang pagpasok on time. So, iyon siguro ang gustong statement ng DOTr na may proseso tayong pina-follow. We will give you due process, alam ninyo kung kayo ay may karapatang bumiyahe or hindi, bibigyan pa namin kayo ng pag-asa maging driver sa mga kooperatiba. So, siguro po, pakiusap po siguro naman, dahil tayong mga Pilipino na magtulungan po dito, because at the end of the day, this is about the commuters, this is not about us anymore. So, iyon po siguro.

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Sir, pasundan ko po iyan. Initially po ,we will have a partnership with the LTO and MMDA. We will have random check noon mga jeepney, titingnan po namin iyong kanilang papeles. Pangalawa po, eventually, we will be issuing stickers, parang iyong nakikita po ninyo sa ipinapaskil ng LTO, para ma-determine po namin kung iyong isa ngang jeep ay miyembro po ng isang consolidated entity.

EDEN SANTOS/NET 25: Doon po sa modern jeep, hindi po ba, nakakatayo iyong tao doon, doon sa traditional jeep nakaupo lang po. Paano maiiwasan ngayon iyong pagtayo ng mga pasahero, kasi naranasan ko na pong sumakay noon eh. Talagang punuan, sa estribo nakatayo din po talaga iyong mga pasahero. Samantalang sa traditional jeep, kahit kalahati lang ng pisngi ng puwet mo nakaupo ka pa rin. Paano po natin maiiwasan iyon, kasama po ba iyon. Kasi siyempre benepisyo sa mga mananakay iyong maging komportable ka sa pagsakay, hindi po ba? Bawal po ba ang nakatayo sa modern jeep?

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Tama po kayo, lagi po nating ine-emphasize ang commuters convenience. Kaya nga po, pati po iyong dimensions and specifications po ng ating mga modern jeeps ay iyon pong dapat kumbenyente. Mayroon pong a little leeway po doon sa ating mga modern jeepneys, tutal naman po medyo maluwag po iyong gitna. There is a certain percentage po that mayroong pasahero. Kaya lang po, in reality, hindi rin ho natin maiiwasan na kapag rush hours, ang mga pasahero po talaga ay nagsusumiksik kahit na ho ayaw n noong driver na magpapasok, pinipilit po nila. That is the reason po, why we want to really push with the modernization. Sa modernization po, na-explain po kanina, magkakaroon po tayo ng fleet management, dahil sama-sama na ho silang magtatakbo ng ruta. At malalaman na po ng ating mga consolidated entities, ilan bang units ang kailangang tumakbo at a particular hour or at particular two to three hours.

Sa gayon po, iyon pong ating mga pasahero ay masisiguro na mayroon silang upuan. Sa ngayon po kais, even in some routes at least in NCR po, talaga pong mas preferred na ho noon mga pasahero ang modern units, because they see the convenience, majority po diyan naka-aircon. Kaya kahit po may mga traditional minsan doon sa ruta, pinipilit nilang sumakay po. That we will address po as we move forward po with the modernization program, again po as mentioned by Chairman Guadiz, patuloy po ang ating coordination with the MMDA for the LGUs also to be on board, as well as the LTO para ho mag-monitor din po ng sitwasyon sa ground.

EVELYN QUIROZ/PILIPINO MIRROR: Good afternoon, Chairman Guadiz. Na-mention po ninyo, wala kayong particular brand na ine-endorse. Pero puwede pong malaman kung ilan po iyong variations na puwedeng pagpilian or bilhin?

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Initially, we have 54 po na models na nagparehistro na sa DTI and which were accredited because they conformed with the Philippine national standards.

JEAN MANGALUZ/INQ. NET: Hello, can we have an update on the Supreme Court order for the DOTr and the LTFRB to comment on the petition filed by the transport sector?

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Ma’am, may I answer on that. We cannot give you an update, because there is a rule po sa ating batas, which is sub judice, bawal po kaming magkomento sa isang existing case po, baka ma-sight po kami in contempt.

JEAN MANGALUZ/INQ. NET: Pero nakapagbigay na po kayo ng comment?

LTFRB CHAIRMAN ATTY. GUADIZ III: Opo, nakapagbigay na kami ng comment last week at nakapaghain na po kami ng aming sagot.

SAM MEDENILLA/BUS. MIRROR: Sir, magtatanong na lang po sana ako kung magkano na po kaya iyong equity na naibigay ng government, in total tapos kung ilang units po naka-benefit at saka kung magkano pa po iyong remaining fund ng government for the equity?

OTC CHAIRPERSON ORTEGA: We could release it sa iyo, after this, nandiyan sa technical person namin.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Technically, we can have another question, Gerg Cahiles, CNN.

GERG CAHILES/CNN: I understand, you mentioned earlier na hindi pa tapos iyong route rationalization. Thus, hindi pa natin makuha iyong exact number ng kailangang PUVs for certain number of PUV sa mga pasahero. But, ano po iyong baseline numbers natin right now? How many passengers are there in Metro Manila and how many PUVs are necessary para po ma-accommodate sila. Thank you.

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Sir, I cannot give you on the specific numbers yet, because hindi po ako iyong right person to determine that. That is why, it’s DOTr that will be handling po iyong route rationalization. But kung iyong ano lang ho, based on observation, we could say that there is really a change in terms of ridership, after the pandemic. Marami po talagang nakita nating pagbabago in terms of using public transport for our commuters. Sa ngayon po, if we could based our observation din doon sa mga nag-rehistro ho na kahit na binigyan sila ng franchise noon, they opted not to register for the past two years, then we could also see the drop po, in terms of demand. Kasi kung binigyan ka ng franchise and you opt not to register for the past two years, that’s also data that we have to consider na kahit may prangkisa ka noon, bakit hindi ka na nag-register ngayon.

On the ground, we made several consultations din po and what we got basically two things. First they really want to retire, marami na po talagang operators na gusto na nilang mag-retire perhaps after the pandemic, nag-isip-isip, napag-aral na iyong mga anak. It’s about time din for them to retire. Another would be, their units are no longer road worthy, kaya for the past two years, hindi na sila bumibiyahe, dahil hindi na nila mairerehistro din talaga iyong kanilang mga units. And there’s some din po na nagsasabi na talaga pong bumaba iyong demand for public transport after the pandemic.

GERG CAHILES/CNN: Sorry, for the record lang, kapag po natapos na iyong assessment this January kung ilan talaga iyong mga nag-consolidate, what will you do kapag nakita pong kulang. Ano po iyong magiging measures natin para mabigyan ng masasakyan iyong mga pasahero during that time.

LTFRB-NCR RD ATTY. TAMAYO: Again, iyon pong ating coordination ‘no, interagency coordination, that’s one. Pangalawa po, once we are able to determine, ano po iyong mga ruta na kakailanganin pa iyong additional transport, doon po pumapasok iyong special permit na tinatawag natin that we will be granting to consolidated entities na makabiyahe rin sila doon sa ibang ruta na mangangailangan po ng public transport.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay, thank you, it’s been an hour-long press briefing. Thank you for all your questions, Malacañang Press Corps, and thank you to our panel for patiently explaining all the details of the PUV Modernization Plan of the government, and this is quite historic actually on a later note, this is our first briefing on our new briefing room at the New Executive Building. So, I hope everyone is comfortable and happy here. Thank you so much. Malacañang Press Corps and have a good lunch. Thank you.

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