Final consolidation extension for willing PUV operators — DOTr

FILE: Public utility jeepneys (PUJs) traverse the smoke-blanketed Taft Avenue in the City of Manila on Monday dawn (Jan. 1, 2024). (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday said the recent extension for consolidation of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators will be the last and will focus on those who have clamored to join the program.

In a press conference at the Primex Tower in San Juan City on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the three-month extension granted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the eighth and final extension of consolidation under the PUV modernization program (PUVMP).

“Since meron nang clamor na sana magkaroon ng extension, kaya ang ating Presidente ay pinagbigyan ang mga nanghihingi ng more time para mag-file ng consolidation requirements (Since there is a clamor for an extension, the President decided to grant an extension for those asking for more time in filing consolidation requirements),” Bautista said.

He said the additional three-month extension is “more than enough” to complete their consolidation application and improve the PUVMP implementation.

Since the previous consolidation deadline on Dec. 31, 2023, Bautista said, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has received several motions for reconsideration to allow late filings for consolidation.

“Meron din mga lumapit sa akin na grupo na gusto na rin nila, na hindi nila masyadong naintindihan yung programa, na ngayon ay naintindihan na nila at willing na silang mag-consolidate.

So, yun ang hinahabol namin (There are also groups who approached me that they’re now willing to consolidate, that they didn’t understand it before but now they do. That’s who we’re going to help),” he said.

With the extension, Bautista said, interested operators will now have the chance to create a cooperative or corporation instead of joining existing ones.

“The OTC (Office of Transportation Cooperatives) will help them, the LTFRB will help them, and all the offices of the DOTr will extend all the assistance,” he said.

Some of these interested operators are part of transport groups such as Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) that protested against consolidation and the PUVMP.

“Marami yan. Yun iba, kasama dun sa grupo na sumusuporta sa PISTON. May mga grupo na lumapit na sa akin (There are a lot of them. Some are groups that supported PISTON. There are groups that have already approached me),” Bautista said.

He said PISTON national president Mody Floranda and MANIBELA chair Mar Valbuena both have agreed to a dialogue with his office to discuss further demands.

“When they agreed to come to my office, it meant they were willing to sit down and discuss the matter with us. So, right now, this is still an open-ended thing.

Perhaps we can come up with a compromise,” he added.

However, Bautista said consolidation will remain to be a firm requirement under the PUVMP and reiterated compromises granted by the DOTr, such as allowing a five-year franchise for traditional PUVs and a seven-year franchise for modern PUVs.

“Ang gusto nila is yung (What they want is an) individual franchise, but it will be contrary to the concept of consolidation. With consolidation, will be very firm, we will require consolidation,” he said.

During the briefing, LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III said unconsolidated PUVs will no longer become ‘colorum’ or unregistered by Feb. 1.

However, Guadiz said unregistered PUVs will still be apprehended as part of regular traffic enforcement operations.

“As long as they are registered because the President has already issued the directive to extend the deadline for consolidation. Therefore, the LTFRB will be giving them the confirmation. Now, it is up to them to register with the LTO,” he said.

On Wednesday, Marcos extended the deadline for consolidation for PUVs until April 30.

The President’s move was based on a recommendation from the DOTr after the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation approved a motion requesting to extend the consolidation deadline.