LTO expands impound areas for colorum PUJs

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is expanding impounding areas in preparation for the crackdown on unconsolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJ) beginning Feb. 1.

“We are expanding our impounding areas. If they insist on operating, they are violating the law already. We will just apply the law to all,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said at a press conference yesterday.

Unconsolidated PUJs have until Jan. 31 to operate before they are treated as colorum or unauthorized units.

?The consolidation deadline under the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) ended on Dec. 31, 2023.

Mendoza said additional impounding areas will be opened in Carmona, Cavite; a two-hectare area at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City; Lipa, Batangas; San Pablo and San Pedro in Laguna; Bulacan and Pampanga.

“Our directive is clear, that nobody will be allowed to pass the tollways (if the vehicle is unregistered),” he added.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said he is still open to dialogue with transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) president Mody Floranda and Manibela president Mar Valbuena.

Office of Transportation Cooperatives chair Andy Ortega said the OTC will publish a list of cooperatives nationwide, where drivers of unconsolidated PUJs can apply.

Floranda yesterday vowed that Piston and Manibela will organize a bigger protest all over the country before Jan. 31.