President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday that the deadline for consolidating public utility vehicle operators under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program will not be extended.

Marcos made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) despite repeated calls for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to scrap its 31 December consolidation deadline and for the "complete removal" of the PUVMP.

"We cannot let the minority cause further delays," Marcos said.

"Currently, 70 percent of all operators have already committed to and consolidated under the PUVMP. This program promises numerous benefits for the majority of our operators, banks, financial institutions, and the public at large," Marcos added.

The PUVMP aims to phase out old and worn PUVs and replace them with modernized, more environmentally friendly, and efficient units. The program also seeks to improve the working conditions of drivers and operators.

Last week, transport group PISTON declared its plans to lead a new transportation strike from 14 to 15 December, opposing the PUVMP.

Under the current rules of the PUVMP, individual jeepney operators who don't begin merging into cooperatives or corporations by the end of the year will forfeit their operating rights.

PISTON stated that should the year-end deadline remain, "around 80% of PUV operators and a substantial number of drivers could be displaced by the year's end."

However, the government has maintained that the deadline is essential for successfully implementing the PUVMP.

"We cannot move the scheduled timeline," said President Marcos. "Adhering to the current timeline ensures that everyone can reap the benefits of fully operationalizing our modernized public transport system."

The government has also assured that it will continue to assist operators struggling to comply with the PUVMP. This includes financial assistance, technical support, and training programs.