MANILA – Unconsolidated operators and drivers will be notified that their franchises are revoked “a week or two” after the April 30 consolidation deadline.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) undersecretary Ferdinand Ortega said they will be given a show cause order first before finally being told that they no longer have a franchise and they can no longer operate.
“Bibigyan naman ng due process ng LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board),” Ortega said in an interview with GMA 7’s Unang Balita. “Bibigyan pa ‘yan ng show cause, sasagot pa sila.”
“So it will take a few days, maybe a week or two para sila ay finally masasabihan o mabibigyan ng information na sila ay wala nang prangkisa at sila ay hindi na puwede pumasada,” he added.
Ortega also urged unconsolidated operators and drivers not to persist in operating despite their lack of franchise.
Based on DOTr’s data, around 59% of operators and drivers have already consolidated into cooperatives in compliance with the government’s PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP).
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently said the deadline for the PUV consolidation program would no longer be extended beyond April 30.
The PUVMP aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution, which costs over P2 million per unit.
The modernization program, which was first planned in 2017, also aims to replace units that are not deemed roadworthy by the Land Transportation Office’s standards.
Transport groups went on a three-day strike since Monday, filed a supplemental petition and again asked the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a temporary restraining order against the PUVMP./PN
