LTFRB: PUVs must consolidate by Dec. 31 to remain LTO-registered

KINGS OF THE ROAD. Traditional jeepneys park at a temporary loading area along Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday (Nov. 7, 2023). A news report quoting Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said traditional jeepneys will not be phased out if they are compliant with the Euro-4 emission standard, which is aimed at lessening air pollution. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)

MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday reminded operators of public utility vehicles (PUV) to consolidate by Dec. 31 as it will be a requirement for vehicle registration next year.

In a statement, LTFRB spokesperson Celine Pialago said being a member of an existing transport cooperative or applying for consolidation will be a requirement for registration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

“Ang confirmation po kasi ay manggagaling po sa LTFRB, yang confirmation na yan will be the basis ng registration sa LTO.

Technically speaking po kapag hindi ka narehistro, hindi ka makakabyahe (The confirmation will come from the LTFRB and that confirmation will be the basis of their registration with the LTO. Technically speaking, if they’re not registered, they won’t be able to drive),” she said.

To date, Pialago said around 129,568 public utility jeeps (PUJ), UV Express, mini-buses, and public utility buses (PUB) have consolidated, or 65.03 percent of all authorized PUVs.

“The remaining 34.97 percent consist of 69,665 individual franchise holders,” she said.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) remains firm on the Dec. 31 deadline as part of the government PUV modernization program (PUVMP), she said.

“The program aims to modernize all consolidated units and those additional units which may be determined by the route rationalization exercise in the next 10 years,” Pialago said.

She said there are 120,023 PUVs nationwide that are yet to be modernized.

The LTFRB is set to discuss on Thursday a planned three-day strike by transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) from Monday to Wednesday (Nov. 20 to 22).

Piston national president Mody Floranda said the protest’s goal is to abolish the consolidation requirement of the PUVMP as well as other recently proposed amendments to the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines.