DREAMING BIG FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
The vision for modernization in 2040 starts in 2019 for the transport sector in Mindanao with its first cooperative congress on March 20-21, 2019 in Davao City. With the theme, “Road to Modernization, Innovating Transport for Livable Community”, the congress delegates will discuss the doable measures to respond to the urgent call for a better transport system in the communities.
The congress is spearheaded by the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC), with the support of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). It seeks to generate the following key output: 1) collective position and action plan on PUVs’ active participation in the Modernization Program, and 2) input to Policy/Legislative Agenda on strengthening transport cooperatives and their transformation into highly competitive and responsive business organizations.
The public transport sector is confronted with the challenging task to respond to the demands of the commuters for a higher quality of life by providing safe, healthy, reliable, secured and comfortable transport system. Thus, the government sees fit to launch a modernization program through industry consolidation, which is a formation of legal entities like cooperatives. The government assistance includes financial incentive, various capacity-building trainings (e.g. fleet management, good governance, finance management, code of ethics, etc.), fast-tracking of franchises, and social support program.
The PUVMP implementation, provides financial assistance with liberated terms/conditions (5% equity, 6% interest and 7-year amortization period) and additional incentive of P80,000 equity-subsidy per jeepney unit and 6 months grace period. Trainings to be provided by OTC include, but not limited to, fleet management, good governance, accounting & financial management, etc. Assistance in complying with loan requirements and other technical related support are also being provided. LTFRB will assist in the fast-tracking of franchises and will even assist drivers to enroll in its Drivers’ Academy. For its social support program, the modernization program will be supported by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for technical support (skills trainings with allowance from DOTr, entrepreneurship seminar, and job referrals).
The congress will be attended by key officers of the transportation cooperatives in Mindanao, national government officials led by Secretary Arthur Tugade of DOTr, as well as local officials headed by Davao City Mayor Honorable Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio.
Contact Person: Corazon B. Martinez
Contact Number: 09266754832