The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced an extension of the deadline for individual operators of traditional jeepneys to join a cooperative or corporation until December 31, 2023. This decision was made in response to a Senate resolution seeking the postponement of the jeepney phase-out and the request of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to provide more time for the transport sector to consolidate.
The extension is part of the Philippine government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program, which aims to replace old and traditional jeepneys with high-quality and environmentally friendly vehicles with bigger capacities. The LTFRB hopes that this extension will give the transport sector more time to consolidate and comply with the program’s requirements, ultimately benefiting both the drivers and passengers.
The LTFRB’s earlier memorandum circular, 2023-013, had indicated that individual operators of traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJs) would not be allowed to continue their operations after June 30, 2023, unless they joined a cooperative or corporation. However, with this recent announcement, the individual operators now have until the end of the year to comply with the program’s requirements.
LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III emphasized that the decision to extend the deadline was not due to the looming one-week strike of PUV drivers and operators starting on March 6. He stated that more than 90% of transport groups have signified their support for the LTFRB’s program, and there is no pressure for them to stop the strike.
The LTFRB’s decision to extend the deadline until the end of the year is expected to give the transport sector more time to consolidate and comply with the program’s requirements. The agency hopes that more operators will join cooperatives or corporations to improve their services and upgrade their vehicles, ultimately benefiting both the drivers and passengers.
