LTFRB to start flagging down drivers of unconsolidated PUVs on Thursday

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Wednesday that starting Thursday, May 16, it will begin apprehending jeepney drivers who failed to consolidate their public utility vehicles (PUV) into cooperatives.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said that PUV operators that did not apply to consolidate operations as part of the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) after the April 30, 2024 deadline would already be considered as illegal, and their unconsolidated jeepneys would be deemed as “colorum.”

“Pwede na kaming mag-flag down bukas and pwede na kaming manghuli ng driver ng sasakyan dahil tapos na rin po ang binigay nating palugit para sa kanila para ‘wag na pong mag-byahe ‘yung mga hindi pa po nag-consolidate,” he said.

(Tomorrow, we can already flag down and apprehend drivers who did not consolidate because the grace period that we gave for them to stop plying their routes is already over.)

Guadiz said that unconsolidated jeepney drivers found still plying routes starting Thursday might face a one-year suspension, while their PUV might get a P50,000 penalty and face a 30-day impoundment.

In Metro Manila alone, he said that there were 1,900 unconsolidated jeepneys that would no longer be part of the PUVMP.

Earlier this month, the LTFRB issued show-cause orders to those who did not consolidate to get their explanation on their failure to comply with the government's deadline. Affected drivers and operators were given five days to respond.

“Halos lahat napadalhan na since May 2. Namo-monitor naman namin ang pagtanggap nila ng show-cause order,” Guadiz said.

(Since May 2, almost all of them were issued show-cause orders. We are monitoring this.)

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier said that unconsolidated operators and drivers will be notified that their franchises are revoked “a week or two” after the April 30 consolidation deadline.

Started in 2017, the PUVMP aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution. It also aims to replace units that are not deemed roadworthy.

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. —KG, GMA Integrated News