DOTr: No more extension of PUV consolidation after April 30

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will no longer recommend an extension of the application for consolidation of individual public utility vehicle (PUV) operators to form transportation cooperatives or corporations once the new deadline on April 30, 2024 expires.

"I think three months is more than enough time for them to consolidate… what we are really after is those who are willing to consolidate," Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Thursday at a press briefing.

"After April 30, we will no longer recommend an extension. This is already the eighth extension," the Transportation chief said.

On Wednesday, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. approved Bautista's recommendation to extend the deadline to join or put up transportation cooperatives or corporations until April 30, 2024.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the extension would "give an opportunity to those who expressed intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cutoff."

The previous deadline to apply for consolidation was on Dec. 31, 2023.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) gave unconsolidated individual operators in routes without a consolidated transport service entity to operate until Jan. 31, after which they would be considered "colorum" and would be apprehended.

During the briefing, Bautista said the DOTr was supposed to issue a statement saying that at a 76% nationwide consolidation rate, the government would still push through with implementing the PUV Modernization Program.

"With 76% [consolidation] is more than enough to implement the program," the DOTr chief said.

After the extended deadline expires, Bautista expects the consolidation rate to increase to 85%.

"At 85%, I'm very sure this will be a very successful project," Bautista said.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, for his part, said that the agency has been receiving several motions for reconsideration to allow late filing for consolidation.

"With this directive for an extension, we will act on these motions ASAP (as soon as possible)," Guadiz said.

Guadiz said apprehensions of unconsolidated PUV units, which were supposed to start on Feb. 1, will no longer happen as individual operators are allowed to operate following the deadline extension until April 30.

Data from the LTFRB showed that a total of 1,767 routes across the country have no consolidated public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers and operators.

Bicol has the highest number of routes with no consolidated PUJs at 451, followed by Metro Manila with 320.

LTFRB National Capital Region Directo Zona Tamayo said the consolidation rate in Metro Manila currently stands at 52%.

"We are expecting the remaining 48% will heed to this extension and file for consolidation," Tamayo said.

The PUV Modernization Program aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace units that were not deemed roadworthy under the standards of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The consolidation of individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations is the initial stage of the modernization program. This aims to pass the burden of acquiring modernized units from operators to the transport entity.

Several transport groups have launched a series of protest marches against the program, saying they have lost their jeepney units after their vehicle registrations were transferred to transport cooperatives.

Transport groups have filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to stop the implementation of the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP). They are asking the high tribunal to nullify relevant issuances of the LTFRB and the DOTr, and to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from enforcing the policies. — VDV, GMA Integrated News