Bayan Muna urges LTFRB to allow PUVs to continue ferrying commuters

FILE PHOTO: A jeepney driver takes part in a transport strike held in March, in this photo taken in Parañaque City. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — On the last day of jeepney consolidation, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was urged to allow unconsolidated public utility vehicles (PUV) to ply roads while the Supreme Court (SC) case is pending.

Transport group Piston filed a petition at the SC asking for a restraining order on the PUV modernization program.

“We demand that LTFRB desist from canceling the franchise of thousands of unconsolidated PUVs and allow them to serve the commuters in their routes, at least until the Supreme Court decides on the petition.  Extending the PUV franchises while the case is still pending is just and reasonable as the Court has not yet decided on the validity of the consolidation program and the cancellation of PUV franchises,” said Bayan Muna Chair and lawyer Neri Colmenares in a statement on Sunday.

The LTFRB earlier clarified that jeeps could still ply the road past the December 31 deadline, but only for the month of January 2024.

READ: Non-consolidated PUJs can operate until January 2024 – DOTr

While the SC has ordered both the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation to answer Piston’s petition, it did issue a temporary restraining order (TRO).

Colmenares said that the SC being unable to issue a TRO within the deadline could spell disaster.

READ: SC orders DOTr, LTFRB to respond to petition vs PUV modernization

“We are disheartened that the Supreme Court has not issued a TRO until now if only to temporarily suspend the cancellation of PUV franchises while the Court is considering the petition of drivers, operators, and commuters against said cancellation.  Should the Court later find the drivers’ and commuters’ petition meritorious and void the LTFRB consolidation order, the franchises of thousands of PUVs would have been canceled by then, causing a grave irreparable injury on the petitioners,” said Colmenares.

READ: Piston to SC: Stop gov’t orders for jeepney upgrade, Dec 31 deadline

Despite transport strikes and protests, Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have remained insistent on the December 31 deadline.