The Automotive Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (ABMAP) is urging the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to revive and reimplement the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP). The group is requesting the DOTr for the urgent return of the PTMP for the benefit of the Filipino commuters.
ABMAP Executive Director Edgar Manuel is said to be reaching out to DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez for the immediate reimplementation of the PTMP, emphasizing that the Filipino riding public deserves safe, modern, and dignified daily travel.
“Every Filipino commuter deserves dignity and safety when they ride to work, to school, or back home. Thousands are already experiencing the benefits of modern PUVs, but many more are still enduring long, uncomfortable, and unsafe rides. We cannot delay modernization any longer,” said Manuel.
ABMAP shares that the PTMP will not only make public transportation safer, but it will also contribute to the growth of the local manufacturing sector, which will entail generating employment and supporting local parts makers. ABMAP added that modern PUVs will improve operational efficiency for drivers and operators.
ABMAP’s stand on making public transport safer is in line with the report shared by the Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association of the Philippines (VICOAP). The VICOAP revealed that between January and September 2025, around 47.3 percent of PUVs tested didn’t pass brake examinations. The VICOAP stated that over 1.71 million vehicles were subjected to brake testing during the nine-month period. Of those, some 737,215 failed to meet the benchmark standards for braking performance.
ABMAP has long expressed its full support for the government’s efforts to modernize public transport. It has also consistently collaborated with various government agencies, including the DOTr and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to help shape practical guidelines and solutions.
“The Filipino riding public has waited long enough. It’s time to move forward. It’s time to modernize. And it’s time to give every commuter the safe, modern public transport system they deserve,” Manuel added.
