House resolution seeking to junk PUV franchise consolidation deadline filed

MANILA, Philippines – Three lawmakers from House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc filed a resolution on Thursday seeking to void the December 31 deadline for the franchise consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUVs).

House Resolution Number 1506 urges Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to junk the standing Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG).

They are also asking for the deferment of the deadline for the application of franchise consolidation.

“Given the economic issues that the franchise consolidation is causing among the PUV sector, it is only prudent to remove the deadline that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has set on December 31, 2023, and revoke the standing Omnibus Franchising Guidelines,” the resolution read.

OFG is the policy used by government to enforce its PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP), which includes the franchise consolidation requirement.

The House resolution was filed by Representatives Raoul Manuel of Kabataan party list, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party, and France Castro of ACT Teachers party list.

They said the requirements “are available only to those with huge capital to begin with, like big corporations and cooperatives, who can easily acquire the needed facilities without going into financial ruin.”

Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) members trooped to Batasang Pambansa on the day the resolution was filed on Thursday.

Piston is protesting the PUVMP and the deadline for the application of franchise consolidation.

In a statement, the group expressed worry over the possibility that consolidation may result in a “monopoly by a few large cooperatives or corporations with the necessary financial capacity to comply with the hefty capital requirements for ‘modernizing.’”