Marcos approves 3-month extension for PUV consolidation

Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Drivers and operators under the groups Manibela and PISTON hold their transport protest from UP Diliman to Mendiola, Manila on January 16, 2024." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/news/01/16/7-transport-protest-jc.jpg"/><figcaption>Drivers and operators under the groups Manibela and PISTON hold their transport protest from UP Diliman to Mendiola, Manila on January 16, 2024.</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE) </strong>— President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has extended the deadline for consolidation of public utility vehicles as part of the PUV modernization program.</p><p>According to the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos, upon the recommendation of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, &quot;granted an additional three months until April 30 for the consolidation of public utility vehicles.&quot;</p><p>&quot;This extension is to give an opportunity to those who expressed intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off,&quot; the PCO added.</p><p>The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it will adhere to Marcos&#x27; directive.</p><p>&quot;Operators and drivers are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity provided by the President,&quot; LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said in a statement.</p><p>He also plans to call for a board meeting on Thursday to discuss the recalibration of the PUV modernization program. Guadiz likewise said the LTFRB is open to hold a dialogue with transport groups to help address their concerns with the program.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/23/24/transport-groups-press-supreme-court-to-stop-puv-modernization">Transport groups press Supreme Court to stop PUV modernization</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/01/16/24/jeepney-drivers-operators-vow-to-hold-more-transport-protests">Jeepney drivers, operators vow to hold more transport protests</a></li></ul><p>“It’s a little relief in a sense na hindi muna kami manghuhuli,” he said.</p><p>“Ang LTFRB ay tatalima sa utos ng Pangulo at higit naming pagbubutihan ang aming trabaho para ma-address pa namin ang mga problema sa modernization. Bukas din tatawag ako ng meeting ng board, ire-recalibrate namin ang aming mga gagawin para lalu naming mapagbigyan ang nasa transport group,” Guadiz added.</p><p>“’Yung mga hindi nakapag-consolidate, tatanggapin namin… ‘yung mga gusto pa ulit mag-consolidate sa ibang ruta, pwede naming pagbigyan. It will widen the program. ‘Yung route rationalization pagtutuunan namin ng pansin… Iaayos namin ang route rationalization para maging mas smooth-sailing ang ating modernization program,” the LTFRB chief noted.</p><div><strong>ROMUALDEZ WELCOMES EXTENSION </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2931087" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>House Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed the President&#x27;s decision to extend to April 30 the deadline for the industry consolidation under the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.</p><p>This came after several protests from transport groups and after the House Committee on Transportation adopted on Wednesday morning a resolution urging the President and the Department of Transportation to reconsider the December 31, 2023 deadline.</p><p>“’Yung mga pinagdadasal natin mukhang pinakinggan ng ating mahal na pangulo… Hindi talaga niya gusto mangyari ang kinatatakutan ninyo kaya may extension agad na ibinigay,” Romualdez told leaders of transport groups Piston and Manibela during their dialogue with House leaders.</p><p>“Kaya po may oras naman tayo, may panahon tayo na mag-consolidate at maghanap tayo ng solusyon,” he added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/10/24/ltfrb-agrees-to-recalibrate-puv-modernization">LTFRB agrees to ‘recalibrate’ PUV modernization to ensure protection of rights of drivers, operators</a></li></ul><p>Piston National President Mody Floranda and Manibela Chairperson Mar Valbuena told lawmakers they welcome the deadline extension, but also appealed that their issues with the consolidation requirement, the planned phase out of traditional jeepneys, and other concerns be addressed before the government resumes implementing its modernization program.</p><p>“Ayaw lang namin ‘yung consolidation pero magmo-modernize kami,” Valbuena said.</p><p>“Sana suspendehin ang implementation hangga’t pinag-aaralan. Torture ‘yan sa operator at driver, dahil nangangamba ‘yan,” Floranda added.</p><p>Kabataan Party List Rep. Raoul Manuel and Gabriela Party List Rep. Arlene Brosas echoed their sentiments.</p><p>“Sa tingin natin hindi ito ang solusyon sa pinaka-problema ng drivers at opeartors. ‘Yung pag-e-extend ay nangangahulugan na hindi fully naunawaan ang panawagan ng ating drivers at operators na ‘yung pag-phase out sa kanila, ‘yun ang i-scrap,” Brosas said.</p><p>“Busisiin ng mabuti itong PUVMP… Dapat accessible. Dapat convenient para sa lahat. Dapat public transport system talaga na maglilingkod sa bayan lalu na sa mahihirap,” she urged the government.</p><p>“Ang problema rito hindi lang naman ‘yung deadline. Ang problema yung sapilitang consolidation na ipinapatupad ng LTFRB,” Manuel also said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/16/24/what-happens-to-old-jeepneys-under-puv-modernization">What happens to old jeepneys under PUV modernization?</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/16/24/dotr-urges-sc-to-junk-piston-petition-vs-puv-modernization">DOTr urges SC to junk Piston petition vs PUV modernization program</a></li></ul><div><strong>HOUSE PANEL INQUIRY </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2926527" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>During Wednesday’s inquiry of the House Committee on Transportation, some jeepney operators and groups raised issues with PUVMP requirement for them to consolidate into a cooperative or a corporation.</p><p>“Marami nang pinaalis sa amin. Sa isang corporation, 18 out of 26 members sa isang korporasyon, pinaalis at nagwithdraw na. ‘Yung anim na natira, ‘yun ang nag-e-enjoy ng 100% na pag-issue ng modernized units,” Lilia Sembrano of the Bacolod Alliance for Commuters told the panel.</p><p>“Sumobra na ang consolidated sa Iloilo sa itinalaga sa bawat ruta… Maraming nakapaloob sa kooperatiba na consolidated na hindi makabiyahe,” Elmer Forro of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition added.</p><p>“Parang ibinebenta. Mayroong presyo na ‘pag ikaw ay nag-consolidate, may P20k, P10k, P8k... Bakit ‘yung humahawak na karamihan dito ay hindi mga jeepney operator? Sa Batangas, wala riyang humawak na jeeney operator sa korporasyon- retired police, konsehal ng bayan,” PUV operator Lito Andal said.</p><p>A member of a PUV cooperative, meanwhile, lamented the repeated extension of the deadline for the modernization program.</p><p>“Six years na wala pa rin. So ‘yung mga gustong sumama sa amin, nag-aatubili. Kasi ang alam nila hindi na matutuloy. Kahit anong extension ‘yan, kung ang mga operator ay ayaw talagang mag-consolidate, hindi sila magco-consolidate kahit kailan,” Leonardo Bautista said.</p><p>“Malaking epekto ‘yun kasi ‘yung program nade-delay nang nade-delay. Hindi kami makagalaw din, dahil dumarami ang kumpetisyon sa kalsada. Imbes na mawala na at ma-i-join na sa grupo namin, mas dumarami pa ang kolorum at traffic sa kalsada,” he added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/19/24/ltfrb-rejects-claims-of-looming-transport-crisis-due-to-puv-modernization-program">LTFRB rejects claims of looming transport crisis due to PUV modernization program</a></li></ul><div><strong>&#x27;COLLECTIVE ACTION AND SOLIDARITY&#x27;</strong></div><p>Transport group Piston, meanwhile, welcomed the extension, calling it an initial victory.</p><p>&quot;Our collective action and determination to defend our public transport has compelled the Marcos regime to extend the deadline for franchise consolidation to April 30!&quot; the group said on social media</p><p>&quot;Our power lies in our solidarity! The fight continues for our public transport!&quot; Piston also said.</p><p>Transport group Manibela, which has also been pushing back against a government plan to phase out traditional jeepneys, simply said: &quot;Tagumpay!&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2931557" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has extended the deadline for consolidation of public utility vehicles as part of the PUV modernization program.

Marcos approves 3-month extension for PUV consolidation

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Marcos approves 3-month extension for PUV consolidation

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 24, 2024 07:09 PM PHT

|

Updated Jan 25, 2024 10:26 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

PUV modernization program

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