LTFRB stands firm on PUV modernization

MANILA, Philippines — It’s final: over 30,000 public utility jeepneys will be considered illegal and treated as colorum units on Feb. 1.

The Marcos administration remains firm on its decision not to extend the lapsed consolidation deadline despite criticism from lawmakers.

Data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) showed that the public utility vehicle modernization program or PUVMP achieved a 75 percent consolidation rate for jeepneys – 112,801 of the total 150,867 units in the country. This could mean that more than 38,000 jeepneys could be taken off the roads and will be deemed as illegally operating PUVs.

LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz said they would start apprehensions on Feb. 1 when the memorandum allowing operations until Jan. 31 lapses, adding that the unconsolidated PUVs would have their franchises revoked and tagged as colorum or unlicensed vehicles.

He noted though that due process will still be observed and individual operators will be made to explain why they chose not to join cooperatives.

Joel Bolano, LTFRB technical division chief, meanwhile gave assurance that possible gaps in the transport supply next month are already being addressed.

“There will be a problem, but it would not be in all the routes. So, before that time comes, the board is already processing and looking into possible solutions,” Bolano said partly in Filipino.

Guadiz defended the PUVMP amid criticisms from House committee chair Rep. Romeo Acop that there is a lack of direction in the program’s implementation, one that is akin to a headless chicken.

“We respect the observation of chairman Acop. But we believe that someone is directing the program and that is Secretary (Jaime) Bautista. Each division and unit of the DOTR has a role,” he said, referring to the Department of Transportation and its chief.

Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairperson Andy Ortega said while they respect the perspective of members of Congress, they will no longer entertain any applications for consolidation as the Dec. 31 deadline has already lapsed.

The LTFRB clarified though that while individual operators will no longer be able to apply for a new cooperative, they may join existing ones.

Meanwhile, Bulacan Rep. Augustina Pancho yesterday said the LTFRB under the Duterte administration might be partly to blame for the problems now besetting the PUVMP.

“Based on our meeting in Congress, we can see that the LTFRB is not really prepared for the PUVMP. They didn’t seem to know how they will implement the program, it seems they didn’t have any consultation at all with the jeepney drivers and operators,” Pancho said in Filipino in an interview over TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

“It seems there was shortage in information, that should have been given to jeepney drivers and operators. The fault lies with the LTFFRB in the past administration,” added Pancho, vice-chairperson of the House committee on transportation.

She called on President Marcos to further study the PUVMP, noting that this would hurt the families of jeepney drivers. She also said that the government has to assess the capacity of drivers and operators to pay for new PUV units. – Delon Porcalla