The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that there would be enough public transport vehicles, at least in Metro Manila, amid the modernization program, as it noted that 97.18 percent of the registered units of public utility jeeps (PUJs) in the region have already consolidated in 2023.

LTFRB regional director Zona Russet Tamayo said this in a presser in Malacañan on Monday, Jan. 15.

According to Tamayo, there would be enough vehicles to serve the public after more than 70 percent of transport franchises consolidated nationwide.

“[The] 70 percent would already be sufficient—I’m speaking for NCR (National Capital Region) po,” she said.

Based on LTFRB route mapping, Tamayo said the agency believes there will be no problems in terms of public transport. She added the LTFRB has contingency plans in case there are challenges that may arise.

“When we map out the routes in NCR, majority [of our] main thoroughfares ay may nag-consolidate or may mag-o-operate na transport (have consolidated or operating transport), public transport po it’s in other modes— perhaps buses, UVs, and even jeepneys,” she said.

“We have coordinated po with MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) as well as with different LGUs (local government units) in case that there would be a need. But right now po we’ve map out for NCR, and we already determine that there will be sufficient supply po,” she added.

Tamayo also said the NCR routes that have not consolidated are those considered short-distance routes. But she noted there are longer routes that can cover those short distances. 

Meanwhile, Tamayo said the LTFRB has already issued the appropriate circular for non-consolidating franchises.

The agency will assess in January whether routes have attained 60 percent consolidation, have less than 60 percent, or no consolidation at all. 

“Once po na nakita natin at mayroon na pong ilalabas na datos po ang LTFRB for that (Once we have the data) on the routes pertaining to the percentage of consolidation, then we’d move to the next stage, which is iyon hong hindi nag-consolidate (those who have not consolidated) will no longer be allowed to run the routes, except po if as we see, as we analyze po, there might be the need,” she added.