MANILA, Philippines – Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announces PUV consolidation deadline will be on December 31, despite the transport strike.
“The deadline will stay on Dec. 31, 2023. Beyond that, the LTFRB will not issue a franchise anymore,” LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz said in a brief interview yesterday.
Drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys and utility van express must consolidate into cooperatives and corporations before Dec. 31, or else they will lose their jobs as a consequence. This is part of the Government’s PUV modernization program.
All provisional authority and certificates of public convenience must be covered by the extension to be granted by the LTFRB for consolidated units before it expires.
This means that non-compliant jeepneys will not be allowed to ply their routes after the deadline passes.
The LTFRB has eased the process, as operators only need a petition for consolidation by Dec. 31 and their provisional authority would be extended.
Required number of cooperative members was also reduced, from 15 to 10 members. LTFRB continues to study about allowing two cooperatives to ply one route instead of having only one corporation.
“Our objective is for the gap (in supply and demand of PUVs after Dec. 31) to be non-existent or manageable,” LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano said. He also highlighted that they have contingency plans in the future.
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza said they are planning to file criminal charges against transport leaders and workers who allegedly harassed fellow drivers and operators to stop operating following the recently concluded weeklong strike.
Also Read: Day 1 of transport strike fails to paralyze transportation
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