Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board Spokesperson spokesperson Celine Pialago on Tuesday said traditional jeepneys, even including those that belong to striking PISTON members, can still ply their routes after the 31 December 2023 deadline of consolidation or forming of cooperatives for the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) of the government.

"All they need is to file their (jeepney operators/drivers) intention to join PUVMP. It's just a one or two-page letter (signifying their intent)," Pialago told the media in a press briefing early morning yesterday.

She added this is also the reason why some PISTON members in the country didn't join the strike as they have already signified their intention by filing their intent to join the PUVMP, "because they already understand the process (of consolidation)."

Pialago said around 60 percent of public (traditional) jeepneys have already joined the consolidation, with 70 percent more of the UV Express.

She added that being a member of an existing transport cooperative or applying for consolidation will also be a requirement for registration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

"Ang confirmation po kasi ay manggagaling po sa LTFRB, yang confirmation na yan will be the basis ng registration sa LTO. Technically speaking po kapag hindi ka narehistro, hindi ka makakabyahe (The confirmation will come from the LTFRB and that confirmation will be the basis of their registration with the LTO. Technically speaking, if they're not registered, they won't be able to drive)," she said.

To date, Pialago said around 129,568 public utility jeeps (PUJ), UV Express, mini-buses, and public utility buses (PUB) have consolidated, or 65.03 percent of all authorized PUVs.

"The remaining 34.97 percent consist of 69,665 individual franchise holders," she said.

Before the 31 December deadline, traditional jeepneys and UV Express drivers and operators must merge into cooperatives or corporations. Those who don't comply will be instructed to cease operations as mandated by the PUV modernization program.

However, if the jeepney driver or operator signifies their intention they can still ply their routes until such time that their consolidation has undergone the process.

PISTON-led transport strike, on the other hand, was due to the following demand: waiving the penalties for those who failed the deadline, which Pialago said is "doable"; extending the validity of the franchise to 5 years is also "doable", according to the LTFRB spokesperson; and the removal of certain onerous provisions of the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG). Revision is in process, which is also "doable".

The PISTON demand to scrap the "consolidation process", Pialago said is "non-negotiable but can be simplified".

Another meeting between PISTON and LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III will take place first before all things are ironed out.