LTFRB: Unconsolidated PUVs apprehended starting today

MANILA, Philippines —  The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will start apprehending today jeepneys that failed to meet the consolidation requirement.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said that the 15-day grace period since the April 30 deadline is over, effectively making over 10,000 jeepney units nationwide colorum vehicles.

The figure includes 1,900 unconsolidated units in Metro Manila alone, which will be considered as illegally operating as their franchises have lapsed.

“We can now flag down and we can apprehend drivers or vehicles because the grace period we had given them had already lapsed, so that those that were unconsolidated can no longer travel,” Guadiz said.

He added that the LTFRB had already issued show cause orders for the unconsolidated operators and drivers, and that the agency could begin apprehensions.

Drivers could face a one-year suspension of their license, as well as a hefty fine of P50,000 in penalties and 30-day impounding of their vehicles if caught in colorum operations.

The LTFRB said that it would require consolidated units to have their documents posted on their windshields for proper identification of vehicles.

Three to four critical areas in Metro Manila do not have consolidated units on their routes, according to Guadiz. This will be addressed by getting units from other routes to serve the affected areas.

“What we did was to issue a special order on the routes to fill those that were not able to have consolidated jeepneys. We had already fixed it,” he said.

Transport groups Manibela and Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) are still asking the Supreme Court to suspend the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

The groups are asking the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to allow unconsolidated operators to continue plying their routes.

Guadiz said they would respect the decision of the court if it does issue a TRO.

“We will allow the return of the 1,900 unconsolidated jeepney units to the roads,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deputized traffic enforcers from some cities in Metro