Transport group Manibela has opposed the call by its co-transport group, the Magnificent 7, for Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Teofilo Gaudiz III to resign from his post.
Magnificent 7 earlier said that Guadiz must step down from the LTFRB’s top post, emphasizing that he did not do better to implement the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
Manibela, in an earlier Facebook post, reacted to the said appeal, saying in Filipino: ‘We are with Guadiz.’ It then criticized Magnificent 7 for allegedly only slamming the LTRFB chair now that they did not get what they personally wanted.
Explaining their remark in support of Guadiz, Manibela chair Mar Valbuena said in an interview with INQUIRER that they do not support the call for the LTFRB chair to resign simply because he is set to push the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
‘We support humane modernization that leaves no one behind and does not include units made in China, and will not be included in consolidation as long as they are single franchise owners,’ Valbuena said, adding that they expect Guadiz to implement the PTMP that way.
Ongoing dialogue
He noted that Manibela is currently in ongoing dialogue with the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) regarding their calls to reinstate their franchises and provide provisional authority for jeepneys.
‘Your call is so that we can better serve the people, the passengers,’ he said.
The Manibela chair also mentioned that their dialogue with the transportation agencies started in April this year, under the leadership of former DOTr chief and now Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon.
‘We are in the middle of the dialogue between the DOTr and LTFRB,’ Valbuena said.
‘If everything is replaced again, it will be difficult because the conversation that started now is back to zero, at least we are being heard,’ he emphasized. ‘If they fail us, we’ll back at streets.’
Valbuena pointed out that, as their dialogue is still in progress, they decided to trust Guadiz and hope that their calls will be granted in the end.
But, according to him, if the LTFRB chair also fails them after the series of talks, the transport group will return to the street, as they themselves will call for his resignation.
‘We need to test to see if they are sincere. And if the day comes when we can only hope, we will go back to the streets and once again call for the resignation of everyone in the agency,’ said Valbuena.