THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced on Tuesday that it will increase the equity subsidy for drivers of public utility vehicles to assist them in purchasing e-jeepneys for the government's PUV modernization program (PUVMP).

From P160,000 as provided in the PUVMP, each driver who decides to shift to an e-jeepney will receive a P260,000 equity subsidy on top of the value of the old PUV, Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said in an interview.

Pastor said a decision was reached to increase the equity subsidy to the maximum amount considering that the prices of petroleum products and commodities continue to rise.

He said the DoTr aims to implement the subsidy increase in the second quarter of 2023.

Based on the current market, a class 1 modern jeepney is worth P1.4 million to P1.8 million, P2 million to P2.6 million for a class 2, and P2.5 million to P3 million for a class 3.

A weeklong transport strike that started on Monday, March 6, was organized by various public transport groups to protest the full implementation of the PUVMP.

The plan aims to phase out jeepneys that are 15 years old and older and replace them with new units that conform with the Philippine National Standards and are powered by either an electric powertrain or at least a Euro 4-compliant diesel engine.

On Tuesday, Manibela Chairman Mar Valbuena said they are determined to continue with the seven-day strike.

Valbuena, one of the leaders of the protest, said they see no valid reason to stop the strike since the national government has yet to give in to their demands.

'[Monday's] strike was successful at 80 percent — not only here in [Metro Manila], but also the main cities in provinces like Cebu, Angeles, Malolos, Bulacan, Dagupan, and Sta. Rosa, Laguna were paralyzed,' he said in an interview.

Valbuena said more than 40,000 PUVs in NCR alone joined the protest.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the first day of the transport strike was generally peaceful. More than 20 groups participated in the protests, affecting 50 routes, it reported.

A total of 4,374 police officers from five police districts and 200 personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion along with 548 vehicles were deployed for security and safety operations in the capital region, the NCRPO added.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Procopio Lipana said the traffic situation in Metro Manila on Monday was almost the same when compared to normal days when there are no strikes.

No stranded passengers were reported, Lipana said.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) technical division head Joel Bolano said the situation on the second day of the strike was 'generally normal.'

Also on Tuesday, the LTFRB said it is fine for the e-jeepney to retain the iconic look of the traditional jeepney as long as it is compliant with Philippine national standards set by the Bureau of Product Standards under the Department of Trade and Industry.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz 3rd issued the statement in response to the suggestion of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to study the possibility of allowing existing traditional jeepneys that can still ply their routes and are deemed roadworthy.

Guadiz presented to the public on Monday a modernized jeepney but with a traditional look that is favored by many and is locally manufactured.

'The modernized jeep that you saw is clear proof that the traditional look can be maintained so the possibility of a phaseout is very, very remote. What we only want is to improve the roadworthiness of the vehicle,' he said.