It’s time’s up for jeepney operators who have yet to consolidate their units. After years of moving the deadline, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has begun apprehending unconsolidated jeepney units that continue to ply the streets.
The LTFRB and other involved agencies began conducting its apprehension operations last May 16, 2024. It came in effect after yet another deadline extension (April 30, 2024) and a 15-day grace period.
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Department of Transport undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Andy Ortega has given traffic enforcers their marching orders to crack down on the offenders.
“In the matter of apprehending unconsolidated PUVs who do not have to ply the streets because they no longer have a franchise, it is really an obligation; that is the job of certain agencies such as the LTO (Land Transportation Office), MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority), and PNP (Philippine National Police),” said Ortega.
LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III added that operating a jeepney without being part of a cooperative or corporation is illegal.
What is jeepney consolidation?
The PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) requires operators to be part of a transport cooperative or form a transport corporation. Per the LTFRB, consolidation allows PUJ operators to gain access “to benefits such as government subsidies and access to credit facilities, among others, to aid in modernizing their fleets and run the modernized units in a systematic and predictable manner.”
It also streamlines the routes that may otherwise overlap, although a special permit is allowed for those in underserved routes. To form a co-op, there must be at least 15 drivers in the group.
What is the penalty for unconsolidated jeepney drivers and operators?
A jeepney operator caught without proof of consolidation faces heavy penalty. The LTFRB states that their vehicle will be impounded for 30 days along with a P50,000 fine. On top of that, the driver’s license will be suspended for a year.
Why is there resistance to consolidation and PUVMP?
It’s down to cost. Transport groups such as PISTON and MANIBELA have long cited that reason and say many will risk losing their jobs as PUJ drivers and operators. It costs P300,000 to be part of a co-op, plus another P20,000 to register each jeepney under said co-op. That’s on top of the acquisition of a modern PUV that starts at approximately P1.6 million.
Protests and strikes regarding the matter are still ongoing.
