_: Jeepney operators and drivers who failed to join the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program would be allowed to operate beyond the Dec. 31 consolidation deadline but only in routes that have few consolidated units.
Joel Bolano, chief of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) technical division, said unconsolidated jeepneys in routes with at least 60 percent of units that consolidated would no longer be able to renew their provisional authorities to operate.
“‘Yung mga routes na may consolidated na less than 60 percent nag-consolidate, ‘yun pong mga unconsolidated will be given until end of January [2024] para makapag-issue [sa kanila] ng special permits sa route na pwede tumakbo, sa routes na may unconsolidated units [Jeepneys plying routes with less than 60 percent consolidation will be given special permits to run until end of January next year),” Bolano said in a press briefing Friday.
“Sa mga routes na totally walang nag-consolidate, they have until Jan
uary 31 din para makapag-operate sila pending the process of assigning units coming from other routes (In routes with totally no consolidation, they have until January 31 to operate pending the process of assigning units coming from other routes),” he added.
Transport officials said there would be no extension of the deadline to apply for consolidation into either a cooperative or a corporation, the first step of the modernization program.
Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) chair Andy Ortega said offices of the OTC and LTFRB are open until Dec. 31, 2023 at 5 p.m. to accommodate those who would still avail of the consolidation.
“In between 3 to 4 kilometers are the routes of those who have not consolidated. Talaga pong tuloy-tuloy na magtutulungan kami (we will coordinate), including the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), LGUs (local government units) and other concerned government agencies in order to have a reliable, convenient, and safe travel,’ Ortega said.
‘We still have
three days para makahabol sa deadline. Sana mahikayat pa ang ibang ayaw mag-consolidate na mag-consolidate na (I hope we can encourage them to consolidate with only three days left),’ he added.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has earlier expressed support to operators and drivers who have consolidated under the PUVMP.
Source: Philippines News Agency
