No consolidated jeepney, UV Express units for 1,948 routes nationwide —LTFRB data

A total of 1,948 routes across the country have no consolidated jeepney and UV Express units, days before the start of the crackdown on unconsolidated public utility vehicles (PUVs) on February 1.

Of these routes, 1,767 were jeepney routes while 181 were UV Express routes, based on the data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) compiled by GMA Integrated News Research.

Among the regions, Bicol has the most number of routes without consolidated jeepneys at 451, which is higher than the 214 routes with consolidated units in the region.

Aside from Bicol, other regions with high number of affected routes compared to those with consolidated jeepneys are Ilocos and Mimaropa.

Ilocos has 189 affected routes and only 187 routes with consolidated jeepneys, while Mimaropa has 140 affected routes and only 92 routes with consolidated units.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), 320 routes have no consolidated jeepneys but 555 have.

The regions with consolidated jeepneys in all of their routes are Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.

The following are the number of routes without consolidated jeepneys per region:

• NCR - 320 affected routes
• Ilocos - 189 
• Cagayan - 74
• Central Luzon - 62
• Calabarzon - 166
• Mimaropa - 140
• Bicol - 451
• Western Visayas - 69
• Central Visayas - 0
• Eastern Visayas - 23
• Zamboanga - 57
• Northern Mindanao - 35
• Davao - 13
• Soccsksargen - 0
• CAR - 93
• Caraga - 0

UV Express

Meanwhile, for UV Express, the NCR has the most number of affected routes at 76, followed by Eastern Visayas with 21 and Ilocos with 15.

The regions with consolidated UV Express units in all of their routes are Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.

The following are the numbers of routes without consolidated UV Express units per region:

• NCR - 76 affected routes
• Ilocos - 15
• Cagayan - 2
• Central Luzon - 4
• Calabarzon - 6
• Mimaropa - 4
• Bicol - 7
• Western Visayas - 3
• Central Visayas - 0
• Eastern Visayas - 21
• Zamboanga - 2
• Northern Mindanao - 7
• Davao - 1
• Soccsksargen - 0
• CAR - 1
• Caraga - 0

The national government said only 76.6% of jeepneys have consolidated into cooperatives after the December 31, 2023 deadline as part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). 

Starting February 1, unconsolidated PUVs will be considered as "colorum."

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is planning to give special permits for consolidated PUV to accommodate passengers in the affected routes.

Started in 2017, the PUVMP aims to replace 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 LTO.

A modern jeepney unit costs over P2 million, an amount that even state-run banks LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines said was too expensive for PUV drivers and operators.

On December 28, 2023, the Supreme Court asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB to comment on a pending petition seeking to stop the implementation of the PUVMP.

The petition was filed by several groups including PISTON, Para-Advocates For Inclusive Transport, No to PUV Phaseout Coalition, and Bayan Muna party-list.

"Considering the allegations contained, the issues raised, and the arguments adduced in the petition, but without necessarily giving due course thereto, respondents DOTr and LTFRB should comment on the petition and on the urgent application for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and/or writ of preliminary injunction within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice hereof,” the SC said in its order.

"Now, therefore, you, respondents DOTr and LTFRB are hereby required to comment on the petition and on the urgent application for a TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice hereof,” it added.

DOTr spokesperson Jonathan Gesmundo told GMA News Online that the LTO will continue with the crackdown against colorum PUVs pending SC decision.

"Pending an SC decision, LTO will continue its anti-colorum campaign under the 'No Registration, No Travel' policy. Starting Feb. 1, the campaign will include PUVs,” he said in a message.

"Unregistered PUVs, even if member of consolidated cooperatives/corporations, will be tagged colorum," he added. —KBK, GMA Integrated News