ALMOST 80 percent of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) nationwide have consolidated under the PUV modernization program, leaving around 30,000 that would be deemed “colorum” or illegal starting today, Wednesday, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The LTFRB released this data yesterday as transport group PISTON and allied groups held the second of their planned three-day transport strike to protest the modernization program.
The April 30 deadline for consolidation lapsed last night, with the Supreme Court mum on the last-ditch appeal made by transports groups seeking the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the government’s program to modernize and consolidate public utility vehicles in the country.
The LTFRB said vehicles that have not joined the consolidation program would be apprehended in the second week of this month.
Of the 191,730 PUV units nationwide, 78.33 percent or over 150,000 have joined the PUV consolidation program as of April 23, an improvement from the 77.68 percent consolidation rate or a total of 148,928 PUV units last April 1, according to LTFRB.
LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz had expected the consolidation to rise from 80 percent to 82 percent after the April 30 deadline.
Guadiz said PUVs that failed to join the consolidation would be required to explain why they failed to do so within the next 15 days.
“Under the law, we are required to give due process. We will send a notice through their email and we will send them a hard copy of what was contained in the email. Within three days, they have to come up with the answer,” Guadiz said, adding: “The timeline is 15 days to finish everything.”
The LTFRB also reiterated that the shift to modern jeepneys will not be completed this year, adding PUVs that are still road-worthy would be allowed to operate until 2027.
As of last January, Department of Transportation (DOTr) data showed that 54 PUV models from local and foreign manufacturers have secured accreditation from the government.
The average price ranged from P1.1 million to P2.86 million.
Sen. Grace Poe said the DOTs and other relevant agencies should show the “effective implementation” of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program since it will push through as scheduled despite the numerous concerns left unresolved.
“With the inevitable implementation of the PUV Modernization Program, the onus is on the DOTr and other concerned agencies to show its effective implementation. We expect sufficient number of vehicles on the road, covering all routes, and making commuting safe and easy as promised by the much-touted initiative,” said Poe, who chairs the Committee on Public Services.
Poe said concerned agencies should also give timely reports to the Senate on the number of drivers and transport operators who have consolidated into cooperatives, among other concerns.
“Amid obstacles such as the costly capital investment of procuring the modern jeepney, we want to know the real number of drivers who have joined the program,” she said.
“Those who will be left behind are bound to lose their livelihood and will add to our unemployment statistics – a woeful reality for Labor Day,” Poe added. — With Raymond Africa
