Transport agencies will hold random checks to ensure that jeepneys plying the roads are in compliance with the consolidation requirement under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, or PUVMP.

In a Malacañang briefing, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairperson Teofilo Guadiz said his agency will collaborate with the Land Transportation Office and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, or MMDA, on the random checks after the deadline for consolidation at the end of the month.

Only consolidated PUVs will be allowed to operate in their designated routes starting 1 February.

“We will examine the documents of the vehicles. Secondly, we will issue stickers similar to those displayed by the LTO to determine whether a jeepney is a member of a consolidated entity,” Guadiz said.

LTFRB Regional Director for the National Capital Region Zona Russet Tamayo said drivers and operators have been advised to carry their LTO registration papers and a copy of their consolidation application to show enforcers.

Tamayo said enforcement officials would need to check the LTO registration since the drivers and operators are “not supposed to ply (their) routes” if they failed to register their vehicles for the year.

Public transportation ‘enough’

Meanwhile, LTFRB said there would be enough public vehicles, at least in Metro Manila, since 97.18 percent of registered public utility jeepneys have been consolidated.

Transport officials were asked at the Palace briefing if there would be enough vehicles to serve the public after more than 70 percent of franchises across the country were consolidated.

“I’d like to go beyond that 70-30 percent, because we have to consider if the 70 percent would already be sufficient — I’m speaking for (the National Capital Region),” Tamayo said.

“When we map out the routes in NCR, the majority of our main thoroughfares would have undergone consolidation or will be operated by various modes of public transport, such as buses, UVs, and even jeepneys,” Tamayo added.

Tamayo assured that the commuting public will have no problems with transportation because of the route maps.

She added that LTFRB has backup plans ready in case something goes wrong.

“Right now, as mentioned by our chair at MMDA, we have coordinated with MMDA as well as with different (local government units) in case there would be a need. But as of now, we’ve mapped out for NCR and have already determined that there will be sufficient supply,” Tamayo said.

Several transportation organizations plan to stage a demonstration on Tuesday, 16 January, to urge President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconsider the anticipated policy that could displace thousands of jeepney drivers from their livelihood.

Meanwhile, alternative groups are advocating for the government to finalize its route rationalization study before revoking permits from jeepney drivers who may not join cooperatives.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the government’s route rationalization study and has yet to be completed this year.

Freedom to choose

A transportation official refuted claims that President Marcos was being misled regarding the implementation of the PUVMP modernization plan.

Office of Transportation Cooperatives chairperson Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said the agency adhered to transparency guidelines well before they met with President Marcos last December.

“Days before, and even a day before we met with President Marcos, we updated the list we provided them. The list contains nationwide per mode and per region details, as instructed by (Transportation) Secretary (Jaime) Bautista. We were directed to be transparent with all the information we had to provide, and we did just that,” Ortega emphasized.

During the meeting with Marcos, Ortega highlighted the President’s evident confidence in the program. “When we sat in front of the President, we could clearly see in his demeanor and his eyes his confidence regarding the program. He is well-informed about the numbers and the program, and he expressed certainty that there would be no extension,” Ortega said.

Ortega added that Marcos underscored the importance of continuing the assistance to drivers and cooperatives to enhance the PUV modernization program further.

LTFRB on modern

jeepney prices

In the same briefing, Guadiz said that public utility vehicle operators are free to choose their modern jeepney models from government-accredited brands.

Guadiz made the clarification when asked about the hefty prices of modern jeepneys, ranging from P2.4 million to P3 million, compared to locally manufactured ones priced at P1.6 million.

He added that LTFRB, the Department of Transportation and other regulatory bodies in the government are not endorsing any specific brand.