Marcos Jr. extends PUVMP deadline by 3 months

MANILA, Philippines —  President Marcos has approved a three-month extension of the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) as some groups are calling on the government to resolve issues in the implementation of a program designed to modernize the sector.

The new deadline for the consolidation of PUVs – a key component of the PUV modernization program (PUVMP) – is April 30, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said yesterday.

“President Marcos has approved a recommendation of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, granting an additional three months until April 30, for the consolidation of public utility vehicles,” PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

“This extension is to give an opportunity to those who expressed intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off,” Garafil added.

Under the PUVMP, transport cooperatives will be created and entitled to benefits like state subsidies and access to credit facilities to aid in modernizing their fleets and run them in a “systematic and predictable manner.”

The deadline for the consolidation of PUVs lapsed last Dec. 31.

Initially, PUVs that did not consolidate their franchises before the deadline were permitted to ply select routes only until the end of this month.

About 38,000 out of the more than 150,000 PUVs have not undergone consolidation.

The PUVMP aims to make commuting and public transportation operations “more dignified, humane and on par with global standards” and provide a “safer, more efficient, reliable, convenient, affordable, climate-friendly and environmentally sustainable” transportation system, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Some transport groups, however, have claimed that the program would displace thousands of transport operators and drivers.

The House committee on transportation approved yesterday a resolution appealing to Marcos to “reconsider” the government’s extension of the Dec. 31, 2023 deadline for the PUVMP.

Presided over by committee chair and Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, committee members Santa Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez manifested the approval of a pre-drafted resolution urging the Chief