Julia Christine Botin

Palace to let new DOTr Chief study PUV Modernization, cashless toll collection

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Malacanang will give newly-installed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon time to study the PUV Modernization Program and the planned cashless collection of toll fees on expressways, an official said Thursday.Palace Press Office Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement after Dizon was reported to be looking into the suspension of the PUV modernization program and suspended the TRB’s reimplementation of the 100 percent cashless toll collection.Castro noted Dizon’s earlier statement that the implementation of the full cashless toll collection is anti-poor and there is a need to ensure first that the country’s tollways are ready to implement such a system to prevent inconvenience to motorists.“Ngayon pa lang po ay katatalaga ni Secretary Vince Dizon so dapat po rin natin siyang bigyan ng pagkakataon para aralin po ito. May mga issues po, especially sabi nga niya po ay kailangan nating gawing perpekto iyong expressway system natin. So, pagbigyan po muna natin ang ating bagong appointed, newly appointed secretary of DOTr, Vince Dizon, at kapag po ito ay kaniyang naaral ay maaari po siyang magbigay ng report kung kinakailangan talaga ay hundred percent na dito sa expressway payment, cashless expressway payment,” the Palace official said.“At makikita po natin kasi ang kaniyang punto kaya dapat din pong pag-aralan ito. Ang sabi  po niya, mahihirapan po talaga na hundred percent sa lahat ng expressway toll na cashless. May pagkakataon po kasi na malamang ay wala po kayong cash at that time o naka-deposit na amount sa inyong RFID cards, mahihirapan po. Ibig po kayang maging result nito ay mag-penalize or magkakaroon ng penalty? So, tingnan po natin kung paano po ‘tong aaralin ni Secretary Dizon ay siya po ay magbibigay ng kaniyang assessment at report sa ating Pangulo patungkol dito.”Castro also noted that Dizon wanted to hold dialogues on various stakeholder groups first on the PUV modernization program.“Muli, marami pong stakeholders na kakausapin si Secretary Dizon. Aalamin niya kung saan maaaring magkaroon ng negotiation at hindi naman niya po pinapasubali na kailangan po talaga ng PUV modernization. So, mas maganda po na tingnan po muna natin kung ano ang kaniyang magiging aksiyon. Bigyan po natin siya ng tamang panahon para maaral ito. Mahirap po kasi—ngayon ilang araw na po ba siya? Two weeks? Parang ganoon pa lang po ‘no. So, hayaan po natin muna maaral at saka po siya magbigay ng kaniyang assessment at evaluation sa Pangulo,” she said.

Malacanang will give new Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon time to study the PUV Modernization Program and the planned cashless toll collection.

Malacanang will give new Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon time to study the PUV Modernization Program and the planned cashless toll collection.