MANILA — Transport group PISTON on Monday questioned the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Board Resolution No. 53 Series of 2024 allowing some public utility jeepneys (PUJs) to still ply their routes even without joining the consolidation or cooperative under the PUV modernization program of the government.

In a press conference on Monday, PISTON deputy secretary general Ruben Baylon said the document was "hidden" from the public.

“Ito kamakailan lamang, na inilabas nila na resolution No. 53 ay itinago nila yan dahil nakita nila yung lakas ng pagkilos noong April 29, 30 at Mayo-Uno kayat naglabas sila ng bagong resolusyon na nagsasaad na puwedeng bumiyahe yung hindi naka-consolidate,” Baylon said.

In the said resolution, Baylon believes that the government intentionally did not announce or reveal the specific details of the said document giving exemptions to unconsolidated PUJ units to ply their regular routes.

LTFRB chairman Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III belied this, saying those documents are posted on their official websites which are accessible to the public.

Guadiz told ABS-CBN News that the agency gave exemptions in routes with fewer numbers of consolidated PUJ units.  

“Wala hong katotohanan yan dahil ang resolution No. 53 ay nasa website po ng LTFRB at ang website na yan ay bukas sa lahat ng tao. Simple lang ang mensahe ng resolution No. 53 na yan. May mga rota sa buong Pilipinas na ang sadyang mga jeepney lang ay apat pababa - so in those  instances, hindi mo mapilit si jeep na mag-consolidate. So ang ginawa namin we exempted these routes from consolidation simply because hindi nila kayang abutin yung 15 na number na kailangan mo para magtayo ng isang consolidated cooperative,” according to Guadiz.

Guadiz clarified that this exemption is not applicable to all unconsolidated PUJs.

Meanwhile, DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista said the government is now preparing for the next phase of the PUV modernization program which is the rationalization of routes for PUJs.

“Next sa PUV modernization  ay yung rationalization, nagawa na natin yung first LTPRP  which is consolidation and susunod ay route rationalization which we are working closely with the LTFRB and the Local Government Units. Yan siguro, sa ngayona ang natapos nang LTPRP  ay nasa mga I think is mga 20% pa lang,” Bautista said.

According to DOTr Usec. Andy Ortega with the help of different LGUs, the government is hoping to have a nationwide Local Public Transport Route Plan (LTPRP).  

“Ang target natin dito is nationwide which have to reach it in the next 3 years so until 25, 26, 27 naayos na natin lahat ng LTPRP so we can go for the next component which the modernization of our vehicles naman,” Ortega said. 

PISTON legal counsel Atty. Neri Colmenares meanwhile said they are planning to file a supplemental petition before the Supreme Court using Board Resolution No. 53 of the government hoping to have a favorable ruling or a temporary restraining order to at least temporarily stop the full implementation of the PUV modernization program.

“Dapat dito sa LTFRB eh dapat sabihin na lang nila sa Korte Suprema na agree muna kami sa mga petitioner sa PISTON sa mga commuters na huwag munang ipatupad ito kasi may inaayos pa kami na route rationalization plan, yung LTPRP, ng mga ruta kesa sa ang nangyari ginigiit nila sa Korte Suprema pero sila mismo tini-TRO nila sarili nila kasi hindi rin nila pinapatupad dahil alam nila, maraming tsuper at operator ang mgugutom at maraming mananakay at pasahero ang walang masakyan at malaking gulo yan kasi milyong-milyong commuters ang magrereklamo,” Colmenares explained.