By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has extended the deadline of the application for consolidation of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators to form transportation cooperatives or corporations until April 30, Malacañang announced Wednesday.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that President Marcos extended the deadline upon recommendation of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista.
“This extension is to give an opportunity to those who expressed intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off,” the PCO said in a statement.
Originally, a memorandum circular issued by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) allowed drivers or operators who were not able to consolidate before Dec. 31, 2023 to continue plying selected routes until Jan. 31, 2024.
LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III stated that they will adhere to the President’s directive, encouraging drivers and operators to make use of the opportunity,
Meanwhile, a total of 190,000 units – consisting of UV Express, public utility jeepneys, mini-buses, and buses – have already consolidated, according to the LTFRB.
It added that as of mid-January, bus units were able to achieve an 86% consolidation followed by the UV Express (82%), jeepneys (75%), and mini-buses (45%).
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) believes that the current 76% consolidation nationwide will rise to 85% in the course of the three month-extension.
“Yung 76% consolidation is enough for us to implement the program. But since meron ngang gusto pang sumama, pagbigyan natin…pero doon sa mga ayaw talaga, wala tayong magagawa doon,” Sec. Bautista said during a press briefing on Thursday.
“At 85%, I’m very sure this will be a very successful project,” he added.
However, Bautista insisted that they will no longer recommend another extension of the application for consolidation of PUVs once the latest deadline expires.
Transport groups Manibela and PISTON both welcomed the new development while still emphasizing that the PUV Modernization Program be scrapped.
“Pero hindi sapat ang extension lang. Patuloy tayong kumilos hanggang mabasura ang negosyo at makadayuhang PUVMP at makibaka para sa progresibo, makabayan, at makamasang pampublikong transportasyon,” PISTON said in a statement.
Manibela Chairperson Mar Balbuena, for his part, respects the decision of those who applied for consolidation and modernization but calls for equal respect with those individual operators who don’t want to be a member of a cooperative.
“Tayong mga single operator na gustong magpatuloy ng hanap-buhay, gusto rin namang makapag-modernize, dapat i-respeto rin ang ating kagustuhan at wala naman tayong nilalabag na batas,” Manibela Chairperson Mar Balbuena said during a Facebook live. (with report from Ryan Lesigues/PTV) – avds
