ILOILO CITY — Modern electronic jeepney operators in Iloilo raised alarm over what they call a potential policy backslide, after Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon reportedly assured protesting drivers that unconsolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJs) may soon be allowed back on the road.
For Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI) President Rizal Alido, the implications could be terrible.
“If this happens, we might be forced to surrender our modernized units and shut down,” Alido warned. “Almost all of us already have overdue loans with banks because 30 to 50 percent of our projected income is being lost to unregistered and colorum vehicles.”
Alido’s group, which represents consolidated operators in the region, has already acquired 555 out of the 1,782 modern jeepney units awarded to them under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), each unit costing around ₱2 million.
Dizon’s controversial remark was made during a protest organized by PISTON on April 7, when he said mechanisms were already being finalized to allow the return of unconsolidated units—jeepneys that failed to join transport cooperatives as required by the modernization program.
“I assure you, what’s important is that you can ply your routes again legally,” Dizon was quoted saying in Tagalog in news reports. “This won’t take long, I promise you,” he added.
While the comment was met with applause from protesting drivers, it left some stakeholders including Iloilo City’s consolidated groups confused and disappointed. They feel the move betrays their heavy investment and compliance with government policy.
“We’re still waiting for an official directive,” said Alido. “But we hope Iloilo City—where 93 percent of jeepneys have already consolidated and all routes are awarded under the Local Public Transport Route Plan—will be exempted.”
He noted that the return of unconsolidated units could collapse the financial viability of the modernized system, which was built on revenue projections assuming full compliance.
Perfecto Yap, adviser to both WVATCCI and Joroshely Transport Services, echoed the concern.
“The pronouncement may apply only to LGUs (local government units) without an approved route plan. Iloilo is not one of them. We studied these routes. They were awarded with care,” Yap stressed.
“If this is applied here, it will destroy what we’ve built. We are already struggling to meet loan payments because of inconsistent policies,” he added.
Alido and Yap emphasized that the government’s own modernization campaign encouraged operators to take risks — risks they now fear will be rendered pointless.
“We followed the program in good faith. If the rules change now, how can we sustain operations?” Alido asked.
Meanwhile, Raymundo Parcon, president of the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC), said the proposal undermines legal and financial stability.
“They don’t have franchises. They’re technically illegal. Why are they being allowed back?” Parcon said. “We invested millions. Now Secretary Dizon suddenly interferes. How do we recover our money? The government’s inconsistency is hurting everyone.”
On the other hand, Elmer Forro of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition hailed Dizon’s remarks, saying they offered hope to drivers allegedly disillusioned with the cooperative system. He claimed many drivers want to leave cooperatives due to internal mismanagement.
Forro said around 800 unconsolidated jeepneys in Iloilo City stand to benefit if the policy shift materializes.