The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is challenging its attached agencies to rationalize at least half of the jeepney routes nationwide by the end of the year as part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

In an interview over the weekend, Transportation Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said the government aims to accelerate the streamlining of routes, reduce congestion and modernize the public transportation system.

Ortega is pushing for 50 percent completion this year and full rationalization by the end of 2026. Presently, only 15 percent of jeepney routes have been rationalized.

“We are now challenging our people in the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) as well as myself in the DoTr to achieve that 50 percent,” Ortega said.

The rationalization process involves determining which routes are necessary and how many jeepney units are required to meet commuter demand efficiently.

Once the rationalization is completed, it will serve as the foundation for the modernization program, mandating jeepney cooperatives to replace aging vehicles with modern, environmentally friendly units.

“We have to finish the route rationalization, and after that, that is when the cooperatives will have the obligation to replace vehicles,” Ortega said.

The DoTr and the LTFRB are collaborating with local government units to conduct studies identifying essential routes and the required number of vehicles per route.

Based on these findings, jeepney cooperatives will have 27 months to comply with the PUVMP by procuring vehicles that meet Euro-4 emission standards, designed to reduce air pollution and ensure roadworthiness.

“Hopefully, by the end of 2029, all of this will be modern — not just the vehicles but also the routes,” Ortega said.

While the program promises a safer and more reliable transportation system for commuters, it poses significant challenges for jeepney drivers and operators, who will need to adapt to new regulations and financial requirements.

For commuters, these changes may mean a more efficient and eco-friendly public transport system in the future.