Even with the 96.86 percent of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were consolidated, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said there will still be no apprehension to non-consolidated operators.
About 4,880 out of the 5,038 existing number of authorized units (NAU) have met the public utility vehicle modernization program (PTMP) in the region have already consolidated certificate of public conveyance according to Engr. Elmer Mendoza, PTMP focal person, during a press briefing Tuesday morning.
However, Mendoza noted that they are awaiting further guidelines from the Central Office to determine if there will be apprehension in the near future.
Mendoza added at least 84 transport groups have consolidated into cooperatives with24 forming their own corporation.
Based on their record, 414 out of the 427 existing UV express have also consolidated translating into 96.96% conversion rate.
It can be recalled that unconsolidated public utility vehicles were allowed to operate until April 30, 2024, as long as they are registered based on Memorandum Circular 2024-001 which issued the guidelines on the consolidation during the period of extension and granted provisional authority to unconsolidated individual operators to operate until the extension of the consolidation deadline on April 30.
“The authority to operate the units of all unconsolidated individual operators is EXTENDED until 30 April 2024, provided the unit is currently registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and has a valid Personal Passenger Accident Insurance Coverage,” stated the three-page document dated January 30, 2024.
“Confirmation of units of unconsolidated individual operators may be allowed until April 30, 2024. The said units are allowed to ply the route as PUV only within the said period,” it added.
The memorandum also set guidelines for filing of application for consolidation, reiterating that all applications for consolidation shall comply with the documentary requirements and procedures provided in the MC 2023-050.
For routes covered by the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), consolidation is allowed on existing rationalized routes with no consolidated entity as of December 31, 2023.
For routes not yet covered by LPTRP or route rationalization, consolidation is allowed if the number of unconsolidated units in a particular route is at least 40% of the total number of authorized units (NAU).
The consolidated entities on the said route must comply with a common fleet management to ensure organized dispatch of units and avoid cut-throat competition between them.
If the number of unconsolidated units is below 40% of the total NAU, consolidation shall not be allowed, the LTFRB explained.
However, the unconsolidated individual operators may join existing Transport Service Entity (TSEs) on the route subject to the conformity of the latter.
For routes with NAU of less than fifteen (15) units, consolidation shall be allowed if the application for consolidation covers at least the majority of the existing NAU on the said route. Roderick Osis
