Piston stands firm against PUVMP April 30 deadline

FILE PHOTO: Jeepneys ferry passengers along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Piston remains firm on its stance against the franchise consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) in the country, just over a month before the new deadline for the merging of PUV franchises on April 30.

Franchise consolidation is one of the first steps to the government’s PUV modernization program (PUVMP), which means that individual franchise holders would join new or existing transportation cooperatives or corporations to be able to ferry commuters.

In an interview with Inquirer.net on Tuesday, Piston President Mody Floranda said that the PUV drivers and operators belonging to the group are yet to express interest in consolidating their franchises.

READ: Jeepney drivers, operators to appeal SC ruling that junked plea vs. PUVMP 

“As per the drivers and operators, they continue to urge the LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] to let them hold onto their franchises because there’s really no need to consolidate,” Floranda said in a phone interview.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, however, previously said that the April 30 deadline for franchise consolidation is final as it is already the eighth chance that they have given to PUV operators.

But Piston remains optimistic that the temporary restraining order (TRO) it had filed with the Supreme Court in December of last year against the modernization program would be able to grant them reprieve from their dreaded consolidation.

“We are still waiting for the Supreme Court’s ruling on the TRO. Right now, they are still not responding to us,” he added.

As for what Piston would do when the deadline comes, Floranda said that they would still push for the halt of the PUV modernization program.

“We will continue or protest actions not just in Metro Manila but all over the country. What we want is rehabilitation, not phasing out of our jeepneys,” Piston President explained.

READ: DOTr chief to PUV operators: April 30 deadline is final 

The government’s PUV modernization program has been criticized for its alleged detrimental effects on the livelihood of PUV drivers and operators who risk losing their franchises if they choose not to merge with cooperatives and corporations.

Also assailed is the program’s plan to eventually phase out traditional PUVs as they would be replaced by “modern” units — the costs of which will be shouldered by operators.

Last week, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition from a different group of drivers and operators, Bayyo, against the implementation of the modernization program “over technical grounds.”