CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Jeepney operators in this city have no choice but to surrender their franchises and be consolidated into a cooperative or corporation due to lack of time as the government is not extending the deadline for franchise consolidation on December 31.
Joel Gabatan, president of the United Drivers Association (UNIDA), said they are willing to submit to franchise consolidation under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) rather than lose their livelihood in 2024.
A PUBLIC utility jeepney travels on Capistrano St., Cagayan de Oro City. (Franck Dick Rosete)
“I am doing my best to help them be consolidated because they might lose a source of income next year,” Gabatan said on Tuesday, December 12.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on social media on Tuesday that the deadline for the consolidation of PUV operators will not be extended, adding that the government cannot let the minority cause further delays as 70 percent of all operators have already “committed to and consolidated.”
Not extending the deadline, Gabatan said, could probably affect the riding public, as transport groups such as Manibela and Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) in Manila are also protesting the deadline for the consolidation.
Gabatan said that majority of public utility vehicle operators in this city have already consolidated and there are only about seven routes with 30 jeepney operators who are UNIDA members not yet consolidated.
These operators are plying routes in Barangays Iponan, Patag, Kauswagan, Lapasan, Gusa, and Cugman. There are also UNIDA members from Claveria in Misamis Oriental and Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental who have not yet consolidated.
Gabatan sought help from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Region 10 as some cooperatives were allegedly no longer accepting members.
He said he was asked by the agency for a list of cooperatives on the above-mentioned routes and told that they would be sending a letter asking these organizations to accept applying operators.
LTFRB-10 Director Abosamen Matuan said during the Philippine Commercial Vehicle Show here where the cooperatives also participated that he has asked them to welcome operators who are not yet consolidated as their franchises will not be renewed on January 1.
Matuan said 92 percent of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in the region have consolidated, making Northern Mindanao one of the regions with the highest consolidation rate. Eighty-nine percent of UV Express franchises in the region have also consolidated.
Meanwhile, only this city, Tangub City in Misamis Occidental, Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, Manolo Fortich town in Bukidnon, and Matungao town in Lanao del Norte have approved Local Public Transport Route Plans (LPTRPs), one of the primary requirements before a cooperative or corporation can apply for loans from government banks for their modernized units.
Gabatan vowed that his group will help members from different cooperatives fight for their rights, especially those experiencing unfair labor practices.