Transport groups claimed that 8,000 operators and drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) who had previously applied for consolidation under the government’s PUV modernization program are no longer interested to consolidate.
The DOTr, however, denied the MANIBELA and PISTON claims.
“Don’t believe their numbers, they are bloated. No matter what we do, they won’t join,” the DOTr said in a text message to the Manila Standard.
The groups said the action was made after the 45-day extension given by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for consolidation ended on Friday, November 29.
Transport group MANIBELA claimed that 6,000 of its members and 2,000 members of PISTON have left the consolidation scheme.
“They used to drive up to five times a week. Now, they can only do two times a week since the cooperative only prioritizes the modern ones,” said Mar Valbuena, MANIBELA chairman.
Mody Floranda, PISTON national president, quoted by a GMA News report, said: “This shows that the LTFRB and the government still haven’t reached what they say is 83% who have complied with the program. Since they entered the corporation, they lost their daily income because of their boundary. The operators said we should follow the program, but we are the ones who lost our livelihood.”
The two groups said they aim to communicate with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to allow them to register and renew their franchise even though they have not yet consolidated.
“Even though we are not consolidated or even if we are not involved in transport cooperatives, I hope we can still register our motor vehicles and our jeepneys so that we can still travel, especially now that Christmas and New Year are coming; it is difficult for the drivers,” said Valbuena. With Darwin Amolejar
