In this 2017 photo, traditional jeepneys travel along Aurora Boulevard in Cubao, Quezon City. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Sunday debunked information on the alleged displacement of public utility jeepneys (PUJ) operators and drivers in Metro Manila.
LTFRB issued the statement after transport group Manibela claimed that the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program will result in job displacement of more than 30,000 operators and drivers within NCR starting on February 1.
It reiterated that the 42,642 authorized PUJ units in Metro Manila 22,284 units have already filed for confirmation in 2023 that they would register their units. Of the latter figure, 21,655 or 97.18 percent have already consolidated.
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“Hence, only 629 confirmed units failed to consolidate, and the operators/drivers of these 629 can avail of the social support program for other livelihood packages from DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment],” the LTFRB said in a statement.
However, it noted that, of the 42,642 authorized PUJs, about 21,042 failed to register their units from 2022 to 2023, which could be deemed as “abandonment of route” and could cause cancellation of Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC).
On the other hand, the LTFRB said reports that no PUJs would be serving students and workers on the Cubao-Divisoria route were also “untrue.”
“NAU [number of authorized units] for the Cubao-Divisoria route is 442. There are already 114 units that have consolidated in the area to serve students and workers. We have the LRT2 to serve students/workers on this route,” the LTFRB clarified.
Earlier on Sunday, Manibela said it would protest nationwide against the PUVMP on Jan. 16 at around 9 a.m. Manibela said other transportation groups would join the march from Diliman, Quezon City, to Mendiola in Manila.