PUV consolidation deadline final - LTFRB

MANILA, Philippines — The deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) will remain on Dec. 31 despite the transport strikes, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“The deadline will stay on Dec. 31, 2023. Beyond that, the LTFRB will not issue a franchise anymore,” LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz said in a briefing yesterday.

Part of the government’s PUV modernization program is the franchise consolidation requirement, in which drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys and utility van express units must consolidate into cooperatives and corporations before Dec. 31, or else lose their jobs.

All provisional authority and certificates of public convenience will expire on Dec. 31, unless they are covered by the extension to be granted by the LTFRB for consolidated units.

This means that non-compliant jeepneys that do not consolidate will not be allowed to ply their routes after the deadline passes.

The LTFRB said they have eased the application process, as operators only need a petition for consolidation by Dec. 31 and their provisional authority would be extended.

The required number of members for the cooperative has also been reduced from 15 to 10 members.

The agency is also studying proposals allowing two cooperatives to ply one route instead of having only one corporation.

The LTFRB assured that there will be no transport crisis even if only around 65 percent of units nationwide have been consolidated.

LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano said they have contingency plans.

“Our objective is for the gap (in supply and demand of PUVs after Dec. 31) to be non-existent or manageable,” he added.

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza said they are planning to file criminal charges against transport leaders and workers who allegedly coerced colleagues to stop operating following the recently concluded weeklong strike.