No extension of deadline for PUJ consolidation

MANILA, Philippines — The deadline for consolidation given to traditional jeepneys ended at 5 p.m. yesterday despite the one-month extension to operate in selected routes until Jan. 31, 2024, Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairman Andy Ortega said.

Ortega said that in December 2023 alone, at least 100 transport groups filed an application for the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

“We are pleased that they were able to join the program before the deadline of the consolidation,” Ortega said.

He added that the final number of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) covered by the PUVM will be known days after the deadline.

“For the past six months, we’ve been reiterating that our decision (not to extend the deadline) is final. This was affirmed by the President. Unfortunately, there are those (PUJs) who can no longer be covered by consolidation,” Ortega said.

According to Ortega, the PUJs were only asked to submit an undertaking on their intention to form a cooperative.

“This includes the names of the members and their signatures, their routes and the name of the cooperative as there is still the process of accreditation. Whether partial or full, we will do that later. What is important is for them to be covered by the program,” he said.

Meanwhile, Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) president Mody Floranda asked President Marcos yesterday to reverse his decision on no extension for the PUVMP.

In a radio interview, Floranda added that Piston and Manibela are still awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court after it failed to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to comment on the petition to block the PUVMP after Piston filed the petition for certiorari and injunction on Dec. 20, seeking the issuance of a TRO to prevent the DOTr and the LTFRB from enforcing the program, especially the mandatory franchise consolidation, until petition is resolved.

“Based on the data, almost 73.5 percent (of traditional jeepneys) have yet to