Manibela urges: Check PUV consolidation records

Transport group Manibela highlighted discrepancies in jeepney consolidation records, which are impacting the livelihood of jeepney drivers, just days before their three-day nationwide strike.

A jeepney strike is scheduled from 24 to 26 March and Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena estimates that at least 150,000 jeepney drivers will participate.  

Valbuena said in a phone interview that jeepney drivers are being apprehended

because of discrepancies in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) released consolidation records.

“The LTFRB claimed that at least 86 percent of public utility jeepneys underwent the consolidation program. However, in an interview with Transport Secretary Vince Dizon, only 43 percent of jeepneys were registered,” Valbuena said.

He added that the figure Dizon shared included various public utility vehicles, such as jeepneys, buses and UV Express vans.

The jeepney group chairman said they are hoping for a deadline extension, which would allow the jeepney drivers to operate on the streets again.

After the jeepney consolidation deadline, numerous jeepneys were apprehended by law enforcement.

“The minimum penalty is around P12,000, but we have a member who was fined P50,000. Where is the driver supposed to get that? Their earnings from driving aren’t that high,” Valbuena added.

Last 5 March, the LTFRB issued a memorandum requiring comprehensive training for franchise renewal. However, Valbuena said this is too expensive, especially for jeepney operators.  

“I hope this memorandum will be scrapped, or at the very least, the fee should be reduced to P400 or P500. Ideally, it should be free, or there should be a dedicated budget for this.”

In January, the transport group also organized a nationwide strike to protest the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program and other transport-related issues, including the rising cost of gasoline.