The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board  (LTFRB) said that unconsolidated public utility vehicles (PUV) are considered “colorum" after the deadline for franchise consolidation has lapsed. 

However, apprehension of PUVs that refused franchise consolidation but still operate as mass transport vehicles will start by May 16, 2024. 

Colorum is a term embedded in the Filipino transportation lexicon to mean “vehicles that operate without the necessary permits or proper authorization from relevant government agencies.”

LTFRB Central Visayas Director Eduardo Montealto, Jr. said that implementing agencies will iron out processes and operations in 15 days, including sending of show cause order to operators of unconsolidated units. 

Apprehension of PUVs deemed “colorum” will be carried out by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG). 

It was learned from Montealto that 91 percent of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in Central Visayas have already been consolidated comprising over 9,000 PUJ units.

Meanwhile, Greg Perez, chairman of Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) Cebu, disclosed that a big chunk of their members had beaten the deadline for franchise consolidation of PUJs. But some members stood by their earlier decision not to avail in the hope that the Higher Court will scrap the franchise consolidation.

The deadline for franchise consolidation of PUVs was set originally on December 31, 2023 but was extended to April 30, 2024.