Some jeepney operators left unconsolidated after getting shunned by coops

Following the expiry of the December 31 deadline, several public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators have been left unconsolidated even after they tried joining some transport cooperatives. 

In Ian Cruz and Jonathan Andal’s report on “24 Oras”, one of them was Pedro Dulin who was turned away when he tried to join a transport cooperative as early as November 15.

He went to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Office on Tuesday to hopefully file for the consolidation of three of his traditional jeepneys on the Binangonan-EDSA Shaw route.

He said he sought assistance from the LTFRB twice. 

“Sana sabi kong ganun meron pa rin. Bigyan ang mga operators na gusto pa ring mag miyembro na matulungan paano kami ba maging miyembro na jeep na modernize,” the driver said. 

(I hope they will assist operators who want to be part of the cooperatives.)

The LTFRB advised him to go to the Department of Transportation-Office of Transportation Cooperatives (DOTr-OTC) Office. 

“Ang kaya kong magawa as OTC, kaya kong kausapin yung kooperatiba doon sa inyo so titingnan ko po kung ano pa ang mga pwede,” said OTC chairperson Andy Ortega.

(The only thing I can do is to coordinate with the cooperative and see what help I can extend.)

Ortega said those who were in the same situation as Dulin could apply as drivers for jeepney cooperatives. 

“Sa usapan ko ngayon sa several cooperatives sabi nila kailangan na kailangan ang mga drivers,” Ortega said. 

(Based on our discussions, cooperatives need drivers.)

“As of now pwede naman silang magpasada dahil nga doon sa 30 days na nasabi ng LTFRB. So, siguro pabilisin lang yung proseso. Kaagad balik na sila sa kanilang trabaho as drivers at miyembro ng kooperatiba,” Ortega said. 

(As of now they can still ply their routes. So what we can do now is to expedite the process for the consolidation so they join the cooperatives and go back to work.)

Jeepney drivers and operators are required to join or form cooperatives under the PUV modernization program, which aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles powered by more environment-friendly fuels. Operators and drivers can apply for new franchises but as part of transport cooperatives.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in December said there would be no extension of the December 31, 2023 deadline, saying 70% of PUV operators had "already committed to and consolidated under the PUVMP”.

Based on the OTC-DoTr data, at least 70% of jeepneys nationwide were consolidated. In Metro Manila, 40% complied with the consolidation process but Ortega said the numbers may increase as some drivers moved to beat the deadline.

“Bigyan natin ang LTFRB ng mga isa o dalawang araw. Magkakaroon sila ng board meeting at definitely lalabas na yung final number tungkol sa consolidation,” he said. 

(We are giving the LTFRB one to two days. They are set to have a board meeting and then we can give the final number.)

The PUV Modernization Program, which started in 2017, aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace PUVs that are not roadworthy by Land Transportation Office (LTO) standards.

Each unit, however, would cost over P2 million, an amount that even state-run banks LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) said is too expensive for PUV drivers and operators.

Some PUJ drivers called for help from the government and cooperatives for cost-efficient modern jeepney units.

“’Pag di kaya talaga eh ayawan na talaga. Sobrang mahal kasi ng unit e garage na lang ganun na lang. Kung kaya naman papayag naman kami,” a PUJ driver said. 

(If we cannot afford it, then maybe it’s time to stop. The units were too expensive. But if it is affordable, we can still adapt to the PUVMP.)

Meanwhile, some unconsolidated jeepney drivers continued to ply their routes in Pasig City on the heels of an LTFRB memorandum allowing them to continue operating in select routes until the end of January.

“Alam naman natin ang ibig sabihin ng consolidation —kusang loob mo sinusurrender ang prangkisa mo. Kaya kami kaysa i-surrender namin yung prangkisa namin at pakinabangan ng mga negosyante, hahayaan na lang namin mabulok ang sasakyan namin dito,” said TPPJODA Vice President Ely Villena. 

(We know the meaning of consolidation — it’s giving away your franchise. Instead of surrendering our franchise to businessmen, we would let our PUJs rot in here.) —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News