The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday announced it would go after operators and drivers of unconsolidated public utility vehicles (PUVs) starting today.
“We can flag down today and we can hunt down the driver of the vehicle since the grace period we gave them is over so that those who have not yet consolidated do not travel,” LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said.
PUV operators that failed to consolidate operations as required by the PUV modernization program after the April 30 deadline were considered illegal or colorum.
Any driver of an unconsolidated jeepney still plying routes starting Thursday could face a one-year suspension, Guadiz said.
The PUV unit of an erring operator or driver could be fined P50,000, plus 30-day impoundment, of the vehicle, he added.
According to the LTFRB chief, only 1,900 PUVs remained unconsolidated into transport cooperatives or corporations.
The agency earlier issued show-cause orders to unconsolidated PUV operators to explain their failure within five days or face punishment provided by law.
“Almost all have been sent since May 2. We are monitoring their receipt of the show-cause order,” Guadiz said.
