The government is proceeding with the full implementation of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) with over 150,000 public utility vehicles (PUVs) that have met the April 30 deadline for consolidation into cooperatives or corporations, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Jonathan Gesmundo, executive assistant to the secretary of the DOTr said in a television interview the government will now focus on route rationalization and fleet modernization, which are the program’s major components.
Gesmundo said the DOTr will no longer hold a dialogue with the transport groups to address their concerns on the program because they have been given ample time to consolidate.
He said the deadline has been extended nine times, the last being for four months starting last January.
“We are moving forward. (PUV modernization) will continue. It is important to advance this program,” Gesmundo added.
Around 80 percent of the total 191,730 PUVs nationwide have officially joined the program, and between 10,000 and 30,000 have failed to join the consolidation.
Within the next three to four years, cooperatives have to modernize their fleet.
Gesmundo said cooperatives have the option to choose the model and the manufacturer of the modern jeepney they will acquire from the 54 accredited local and international manufacturers.
He said the government is not endorsing a particular manufacturer.
On the route rationalization, the DOTr is coordinating with the local government units to determine the route assigned to each cooperative that joined the consolidation.
Under Department Order no 2023-002 on Dec. 29, 2023, the route rationalization plan involves the identification of public transport supply gaps and the planning of complex route networks.
DOTr shall be specifically in charge of the following routes between highly-urbanize cities, inter-provincial routes, inter-regional routes, and inter-zonal in the Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study update and capacity enhancement project area.
Part of the component of route rationalization is the conduct of an inventory of exiting routes and of available transport facilities in a certain area.
“The approved route plan shall be the minimum requirement prescribed for the issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience wherein the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board) will conduct an open and transparent process to select the public transport operators for new/developmental routes and rationalized routes without existing consolidated operators, unless in routes that shall be offered for affected consolidated operators,” the department order said.
With regards to the acquisition of modern units, the DOTr will partner with financial institutions, either government financing institutions or private financial institutions , public-private partnership concessions, official development assistance partners, international financial institutions for programs to assist the transport service entities in the acquisition of modern PUV units
The DOTr is also implementing social support to provide assistance to the affected transport stakeholders who failed to join the program.
