OTC: Unconsolidated jeepneys should not operate starting Feb. 1

The Office of Transportation Cooperatives on Sunday appealed to public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers who failed to consolidate before the deadline to stop plying their routes beginning February 1 to avoid conflicts with apprehending authorities.

OTC Chairman Andy Ortega was referring to the jeepneys that would be tagged as “colorum” or illegal after their operators failed to meet the December 31, 2023 consolidation deadline as part of the PUV Modernization Program.

“‘Yung sa mga alam nilang hindi naman sila pwedeng bumyahe, ika nga, wala na silang prangkisa, kusa sila dapat hindi na bumiyahe para wala nang pinaguusapang hulihan,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Drivers who know that they can no longer operate because they no longer have franchises should not operate to not be apprehended.)

“‘Yun ang pinaka-importante dito, na ikaw mismo, alam mo na, hindi ka dapat bumiyahe, wag ka nang bumiyahe para hindi magkagulo o magkaron ng konting mga friction,” he continued.

(The most important thing here is to stop operating when you know you can’t, so there will be no conflicts or friction.)

Ortega said Saturday that drivers and operators of unconsolidated PUV units would not ultimately lose their livelihoods as they can still join or be absorbed by other cooperatives or consolidated PUV entities.

Based on data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), only 21,655 out of 42,177 units, or 51%, met the consolidation deadline, leaving 20,522 units still unconsolidated.

This means that half of the jeepneys in Metro Manila could be considered “colorum” starting February 1.

Despite this, Ortega said law enforcers would be “sensitive” in approaching operators and drivers who will be affected by the PUV Modernization Program.

The OTC chairman also remained firm that operators knew the implications of not consolidating.

“Clear talaga na 'yun talagang hindi umabot ng December 31, which was two weeks ago, alam na nila na hindi na talaga sila makakasama sa programa… Desisyon naman po nila 'yun. Talagang hindi sila nag-consolidate nung December 31,” he said.

(It's really clear that if they don't meet the December 31 deadline, they won't be able to participate in the program anymore... That's their decision. They really did not consolidate on December 31.)

Bonifacio Bosita, the 1 Rider party-list Representative, said Wednesday that P7,000 per day was needed for transport cooperatives to pay their loans and for drivers to earn enough for their family if they would get a modern jeepney worth P2.8 million.

Ortega said that the government should thus consider further increasing the loan subsidy for the purchase of modern PUV units of consolidated operators.

“Ako, personal ‘to, kung may pag-asa pa tayo eh dagdagan pa natin but that is something that we will have to look into. Pero kailangan tulungan pa talaga sila tungkol sa presyo,” he said.

(My personal opinion is that we should increase the loan subsidy, but this has to be looked into. But the government has to provide more help to operators when it comes to the costs of modern jeepneys.)

In October 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) increased the loan subsidy for the purchase of modern jeepneys to P280,000 per unit from the previous P160,000 per unit. — DVM, GMA Integrated News