The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has reopened applications for the consolidation of public utility jeepneys (PUJ) and UV Express operators under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
In a Department Order signed by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, operators who failed to consolidate by the previous November 2024 deadline and whose units are registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the 2023-2024 period may now apply, as reported by RH 5 Val Gonzales.
Additionally, those with pending motions to accept consolidation or applications for consolidation may once again apply.
Provisional Authority (PA) permits granted to operators will be valid for one year and may be extended or renewed, depending on the guidelines to be issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
However, the DOTr emphasized that operators must comply with the agency’s and the LTFRB’s policies and pass the LTO’s Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) roadworthiness test.
LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III revealed this consolidation, which will resume Wednesday, May 14, did not have a deadline as of now.
“Effective na ‘to next week, May 14 … Wala itong deadline (This does not have a deadline), unlike the previous industry consolidation, (naglagay) ng deadline ang DOTr (when the DOTr set a deadline). For this one, there are no deadlines to give them ample time,” Guadiz told the press during an ambush interview.
“But definitely, may cut-off time ito later on. But we are not restricting ourselves with a self-imposed deadline. Tatantsyahin muna namin kung ilan na ‘yung nag-consolidate from among the 15 percent na hindi sumama. And then pag substantial na, then we will eventually put a closure to the first phase of the industry consolidation,” he added.
(But definitely, this will have a cut-off time later on. But we are not restricting ourselves to a self-imposed deadline. We will first gauge how many have consolidated from among the 15 percent who did not join. Once there is a substantial number of them, we will eventually close the first phase of the industry consolidation.)
Based on a report by the regulatory agency, 86 percent of operators have consolidated, with 43 percent of them having submitted complete documents.
