PUV consolidation reopens until Nov. 29

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Modern jeepney units of the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas go around Quezon City on Saturday (April 13, 2024). (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – Unconsolidated public utility vehicle (PUV) operators who wish to join the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) have been given until Nov. 29 to join existing transport cooperatives or corporations.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over People’s Television on Friday, Department of Transportation (DOTr)Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Andy Ortega invited unconsolidated PUV operators to visit Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) offices for consolidation.

However, creating new transport cooperatives or corporations will not resume.

Those who wish to consolidate during the period will be limited to joining existing ones, except those operating in routes without transport cooperatives.

“Sila ay puwedeng sumama, sumanib doon sa mga na-una ng nag-consolidate. Ito po ay good for the next 45 days. Mayroon po silang pag-asang makasali sa mga kooperatiba po (They can join those who have already consolidated. This will be good for the next 45 days. They will have the opportunity to join cooperatives),” Ortega said.

The new consolidation period was formalized through the signing of an LTFRB memorandum, following a hearing between the DOTr and Senate President Francis Escudero and Senator Raffy Tulfo.

Ortega assured those who wish to join the PTMP that they are not yet required to replace their PUVs with modern units as modernization is two to three years away.

“We will help them build up themselves sa kooperatiba para lalo silang lumakas, paano magpatakbo ng isang kooperatiba financially, financial management, paano magpatakbo ng mga sasakyan (in their cooperative so that they will become stronger, we’ll teach them how to manage a cooperative through financial and fleet management and how to operate vehicles),” he said.

By the time modern PUVs are required, he said the government will provide an equity subsidy of PHP280,000 per modern PUV bought by cooperatives.

For those against joining transport cooperatives, he said the petition against the PTMP has already reached the Supreme Court.

“We will just have to respect the decision of these leaders na ayaw nilang sumama (that they don’t want to join) for whatever reason,” he said.