Transport groups: Govt agencies disregarding deadline extension

TRANSPORT groups yesterday told lawmakers that some field officers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are still apprehending and impounding unconsolidated traditional jeepneys despite President Marcos Jr.’s order for a three-month extension in the implementation of the government’s Passenger Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

During the continuation of the hearing of the House Committee on Transportation on the PUV modernization program, Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) president Mody Floranda said he was with a Piston member who was accosted by LTO officers who asked for proof of his provisional authority (PA) to operate and his vehicle registration.

“So, we said, ‘Weren’t you oriented that the PA has a three-month extension?” Floranda said in Filipino, responding to Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela), who asked the groups to share their experiences following the President’s directive to extend the deadline to April 30.

Mar Valbuena of the Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) said at least 10 traditional jeepneys in his group were impounded after drivers failed to present consolidation documents to the LTO officers.

Valbueba said the LTO officers claimed that since their PAs were already “expired” as of December 31, their units are classified as “colorum” or illegally operating.

The field officers insisted on the expiry of the memorandum allowing individual operators in routes without a consolidated transport service entity (TSE) to operate despite the President’s directive.

Despite their insistence that the December 31 deadline was extended to January 31 with another three-month extension recently ordered by the President, the appeal fell on deaf ears.

“Maybe our law enforcement agencies are not being briefed correctly,” Valbueba said in the vernacular, addressing panel chair Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, who was instructed by Speaker Martin Romualdez to hold the hearings, citing reports that existing transport officials are allegedly in cahoots with previous officials in the negotiations for the importation of modern jeepney units to replace old ones.

Like LTO field officers, Valbuena said