CONVENIENT RIDE. Passengers board modern jeepney units at the Farmers Garden Parking terminal in Cubao, Quezon City on Jan. 15, 2024. The Public Transport Modernization Program will continue despite the filing of a resolution in the Senate seeking to suspend its implementation temporarily. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
MANILA – The Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) will continue despite the filing of a resolution in the Senate seeking to suspend its implementation temporarily.
In a statement Thursday, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chair Teofilo Guadiz III assured all drivers and operators who have complied with the consolidation requirement that there are no plans to halt the program.
“We assure the drivers, operators, and stakeholders who participated in the (PTMP) that it will proceed as long as there is no directive coming from the President and the Department of Transportation to halt the program,” Guadiz said.
He said the LTFRB respects the Senate resolution calling for the program’s temporary suspension based on concerns raised by some public transport groups.
The LTFRB also clarified that some unconsolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJ) and UV Express units are allowed to ply some routes due to the low number of authorized units in these areas.
Under LTFRB Resolution 53, the board recognized that the required minimum number of public utility vehicles (PUV) in a route before filing for consolidation has restricted some operators from applying for consolidation and participating in the PTMP.
“In order to ensure that there is enough supply of public transportation in routes with low authorized units, the LTFRB allowed unconsolidated units to operate without filing for consolidation,” the resolution read.
However, these PUV routes will have to be approved by the Local Public Transport Route Plan, also known as the Route Rationalization Plan.
These PUVs will also have to be registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and have a valid Personal Passenger Accident Insurance Coverage.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) also remained firm that the PTMP would continue as the majority of the transport sector has signed up under the program.
DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Jesus Ferdinand Ortega said the deadline for consolidation that lapsed on April 30 would continue to be enforced.
“‘Yung lahat sa sektor ng transportasyon na gustong sumama ay nasa loob na po. Wala po tayong naiwanan. On the part of DOTr, we were given a marching order po ng Pangulo, 100 percent go po ito (Everyone who wants to join the program has already joined, nobody has been left behind. On the part of the DOTr, we are 100 percent behind the marching order of the President),” Ortega said.
The PTMP is one of the flagship programs of the government that seeks to revamp the country’s road transportation system by addressing vehicle safety and quality, route network efficiency, and fleet management.
It also seeks to provide commuters with modern PUVs that are comfortable, accessible, safe, and affordable. (PNA)
