More PUV consolidation applications before deadline — DOTr

 

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday said that more public utility vehicle (PUV) franchise holders and operators opted to consolidate before the deadline of franchise consolidation on December 31 last year.

“Significant number of applications for consolidation was observed before the December 31, 2023 deadline,” the DOTr said in a statement.

This is in contrast to transport group Piston’s claim that about 73 percent of PUV operators in Metro Manila are still unconsolidated. 

“An LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] resolution allowed applicants to beat the deadline even if payment of pertinent fees have not been made,” DOTr’s statement continued.

The agency was referring to LTFRB Board Resolution No. 124 Series of 2023, which permitted applicants for franchise consolidation to pay fees even after the deadline.

“Today, January 2, 2024, the first working day after the deadline, LTFRB is calling those applicants to settle the fees so they can be included in the final consolidation report,” it added.

“In the meantime that the figures are being finalized, all unconsolidated PUVs may continue operating until January 31, 2024. The LTFRB will issue an appropriate resolution to give effect to this instruction,” the DOTr said.

Prior to the December 31 deadline, the LTFRB released a memorandum allowing unconsolidated PUV units to continue ferrying commuters in chosen routes in Metro Manila until the end of January.

Mody Floranda, president of the transport group Piston said that this is only delaying the inevitable negative impact of the PUV modernization program on commuters.