Dizon to decide on PUJ operation resumption

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expected to decide within two weeks whether traditional jeepneys will be allowed to renew their provisional authority (PA) and resume operations.

The decision comes after a dialogue between Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and the stakeholders, during which transport groups pushed for franchise renewal and the suspension of route rationalization plans.

“We just finished our discussion with Secretary Vince Dizon... He will be given one week or 10 days and there will be an answer. He said that we will be able to renew and register (our franchises),” said Mody Floranda, president of Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide or PISTON.

“This is a small victory – proof that our continuous efforts and mobilizations are bearing fruit,” he added.

Jeepney drivers and operators are demanding a five-year franchise renewal instead of the short-term provisional authority.

They cited Republic Act 4136, which regulates land transportation services, in asking for a franchise renewal.

PISTON and other groups argue that the temporary permits create instability and threaten the livelihoods of small-scale operators.

The transport groups also called for a halt to the route rationalization program under the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), which they said displaced thousands of drivers and reduced public transport availability.

Floranda warned that failure to reach a favorable decision within the given timeframe could lead to further protests.

“We will discuss the next steps with other organizations. But if in our discussion it will not be resolved, we will not agree to end the battle on the road. We are not ruling out joining transport strikes,” Floranda said.

During the dialogue, transport groups also raised their concerns about “conflicting figures” presented by the government regarding PUVMP compliance.

According to PISTON, government officials claim that 86 percent of operators have complied with consolidation. But the group, citing its own data, said the actual figure is only around 43 percent.

“This shows that the government’s program is flawed and poorly implemented,” Floranda said.

When asked if they would join the planned transport strike on Monday, Floranda said they are still deliberating on it.

“We will study it further. The decision will come after the two-week period,” he said.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has yet to release an official statement regarding the timeline for its decision.

Meanwhile, other transport groups remain firm in their call for franchise renewal and the suspension of the modernization program’s phaseout of traditional jeepneys.