LTFRB consolidates 164,137 PUV franchises

Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced on Sunday that it has “finally completed” its long delayed Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) with 85.6 percent of all the public utility vehicles in the country joining the program.

It said that out of the 191,730 PUVs in the country, 164,137 units have consolidated or have joined transport cooperatives or corporations.

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This was slightly higher than the 83.88 percent consolidation rate reported by the Department of Transportation, following the April 30 final consolidation deadline imposed by President Marcos.

“This is considered a milestone, not just for the LTFRB, but for the entire government. It took seven years to finally reach this far in terms of the aspiration to modernize the country’s public transport,” said LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista previously said that the government can “successfully” implement the PTMP with at least 85 percent consolidation rate. —Dexter Cabalza