SOME 230 traditional jeepneys in Pangasinan are still not consolidated and, therefore, cannot be expected to ply their usual routes consistent with the terms of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the Department of Transportation after the December 31, 2023 deadline.

Bernard Tuliao, president of the Alliance of United Transport Organization Provincewide (AUTOPro), revealed that those who have not consolidated are traditional jeepneys plying small authorized routes are unable to meet the minimum 15 units to consolidate.

He cited the case of five traditional jeepneys plying the Mangin-Dagupan City route who are willing to consolidate but they cannot meet the minimum number to consolidate.

Tuliao said the owners of five jeepneys from Mangin and owners of other units servicing other small routes have petitioned the Land Transportation Land Franchising and Regulatory Board to exempt them from meeting the minimum requirements for consolidation. However, LTFRB has not responded.

Tuliao confirmed that to date 90 percent of the traditional jeepneys in Pangasinan have already consolidated in compliance to PUVMP but only eight percent have been modernized.

He expects all of the transitional jeepneys shall have been modernized in two-three years.

Tuliao also cited Metro Manila’s case where only 30 percent of traditional jeepneys have already consolidated.

He’s also anxious to see how the Supreme Court will rule on the petition filed by the 70% owners questioning the legality of PUVMP and the consolidation of individual franchises. (Leonardo Micua)

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