PISTON gets DOTr commitment unconsolidated jeepneys may renew franchises

Operators of traditional jeepneys who failed to consolidate under the government's PUV modernization program will be allowed to renew their franchises.

According to the Balitanghali report of GMA Integrated News’ Raffy Tima, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon gave this assurance to Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) during their protest rally on Monday. 

“Right after Holy Week, siguradong meron na tayong final na magiging mekanismo para makabalik kayo. Pero ang utos ko na ho sa kumite, kailangan 'yung mga hindi nakapasok lampas doon sa April 2024 deadline kailangan makapasada,” Dizon said. 

(Right after Holy Week, we would already have finalized mechanisms to allow you to return to the road. But I already ordered the committee to make sure that those who failed to make it to the April 2024 deadline be allowed to ply their routes.)

Dizon faced the protesters outside the Department of Transportation’s office in San Juan City two weeks after he committed to study if traditional jeepneys could still renew their franchise. 

As they secured Dizon’s commitment, PISTON asked the DOTr chief to ensure that they would not need to go through the “eye of the needle” in renewing their franchise. 

In response, Dizon assured that “it won’t happen.” 

PISTON has been asking the DOTr to allow traditional jeepneys again to secure a five-year franchise so they can legally operate and ply their routes.

Launched in 2017, the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP)—formerly the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP)—sought to phase out old jeepneys and replace them with Euro 4-compliant vehicles to reduce pollution. 

It also mandated the consolidation of individual franchises into cooperatives or corporations as a requisite to operate.

The group urged the government to do away with the PTMP, return the effectivity of the franchises to five years, allow all traditional jeepneys to renew their franchise without consolidation, and junk jeepney phases and the importation of modern units.

The transportation secretary said some 86% of public utility vehicles (PUV) had applied for consolidation as the initial part of the modernization program, but around 40% have been approved.

The program aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have Euro 4-compliant engines to lessen pollution and 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 had said was too expensive for PUV drivers and operators. –Celine Serquiña/Hana Bordey/NB/AOL, GMA Integrated News