At least three jeepney groups composed of hundreds of operators and drivers trooped to the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) in Quezon City on the last day of the franchise consolidation for the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) on New Year's Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31.
OTC Chairman Jesus "Andy" Ortega said he was elated that the jeepney operators and drivers took a chance on the PUVMP despite the issues hurled against it.
"Sa araw na ito, may dumating pa. May humabol pang tatlong grupo. Natutuwa nga ako 'yung pangatlo siguro mga mahigit 200 na franchise at operator 'yung kasama niya (On this day, there are last-minute applicants. Three groups beat the deadline. I am elated that the third group has more than 200 franchise holders and operators)," Ortega said in a radio interview with dzBB.
"Everytime na may pumapasok sa opisina ko na may dalang 15 or 20 or depende sa laki ng ruta, medyo sumasaya po kami dahil additional job para sa ating mga kaibigan na drivers (Everytime that a group enters my office with 15 or 20 franchises or depending on the route, it makes me happy because this means additional job for our drivers)," he added.
The OTC said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will consolidate the number of operators and drivers who agreed to form a cooperative or corporation for the implementation of the jeepney modernization program, including the last-minute applicants on Sunday. The deadline was set at 5 p.m.
"Pero as per report, let’s talk sa NCR. 'Yung sinasabing 26 percent a few weeks ago noong isang araw, mga nasa 34 percent na. We expect more numbers and 'yung nationwide is still 70 percent na numero so ika nga, every number na nadadagdagan is a good number for us (But as per report, let's talk about the numbers in the National Capital Region. The 26 percent [consolidation rate] a few weeks ago as reported the other day rose to 34 percent now. We expect more numbers and the nationwide rate is still 70 percent so every number added to that is a good number for us)," Ortega said.
The LTFRB earlier said that it is expecting around 154,000 PUVs -- or 70 percent of the total number of PUVs nationwide -- to consolidate to a cooperative or corporation by Dec. 31.
The industry consolidation is only one of the 10 components of the PUVMP, or the jeepney modernization program of the national government that is being implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Those who will fail to consolidate risks their franchise of getting cancelled, a move heavily criticized by various stakeholders including major transport groups as they said the modern jeepneys that will replace traditional jeepneys aged 15 years and older are too costly for an ordinary driver.
One modern jeepney equipped with Euro 4 electric engine, Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker, automated fare collection system, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera could amount to P1.4 million to P3 million, according to DOTr.
Nonetheless, Ortega said the government respects the decision of the operators who remained defiant and refused to consolidate their franchises.
"Nasa kamay po nila ‘yan at wala po sa kamay namin. Matagal na naming sinabi sa kanila na firm ang deadline at inaffirm ito ng Presidente (It's on their hands and not on ours. We have told them a long time ago that the deadline is firm and this was affirmed by the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.]," he said.
"Kung meron pong mga lugar na hindi nagconsolidate ang operators ay mapupunuan naman po ang mga ruta na iyon ng bagong operators galing sa mga nagconsolidate. 'Yung mga drayber ng mga operators na hindi nagconsolidate ay magkakapag-asa pa sila na makapagmaneho doon sa mga bagong operators na ibibigay ng gobyerno (If there are areas where the operators did not consolidate, the [operators] in that routes will be replaced by new operators who consolidated. The drivers of the operators who did not consolidate still have hope that they would be able to ply the routes under the new operators coming from the government)," he continued.
"Even though it’s a sad day, last day na ngayon, hahanapan po namin dito sa OTC at sa DOTr ng trabaho 'yung mga drivers na nadisplace. We will make sure na tuluy-tuloy po sila sa ruta (Even though it's a sad day as it is the last day [of consolidation] today, we, at the OTC and DOTr, will find ways so that the displaced drivers will get a job. We will make sure that they can still ply their routes continuously)," he stated.