(Philippine Daily Inquirer file photo/ Richard A. Reyes)
MANILA, Philippines — Operators and drivers of non-consolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will be given due process and will still be allowed to operate until January 2024, Department of Transportation – Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairperson Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said on Thursday.
“Para lang maging klaro tayo, pagdating ng January, iyong mga hindi nag-consolidate, tuloy pa rin naman iyang bibiyahe dahil we will give them due process. May proseso po ang LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) na gagawin sa kanila, they will be given a chance to explain, they will be given a chance to process,” said Ortega during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.
(To be clear, by January 2024, those who did not consolidate may continue operations because we will give them due process. The LTFRB has a process for them; they will be given a chance to explain, and they will be given a chance to process.)
Ortega said the process will take the entire month of January, but stressed that consolidation is still mandated.
PUV / transportation groups, Ortaga said, are still going to the Office of Transportation Cooperatives to beat the December 31, 2023 deadline for consolidation.