Sen. Grace Poe said on Tuesday, January 23, that concerned agencies must prioritize contingency measures to ensure that the mobility of our commuting public will not be hampered.

In a statement, Poe stated that this should be done instead of just training its sights on the crackdown of unconsolidated jeepneys.

She added that the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should publicize a complete list of routes that are expected to have a shortage of jeepney starting February 1.

Earlier, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said all jeepney operators who failed to consolidate on Dec. 31 are deemed colorum, or illegally operating, and will be the subject of full enforcement of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) starting Feb. 1.

The consolidation into either a cooperative or corporation is the first phase of the PUV Modernization Program, which transport officials deem essential in applying for a loan on a modern unit and in rationalization of franchises and routes across the country.

The consolidation deadline was Dec. 31, and the DOTr said no operators will be allowed to join existing cooperatives or corporations or create new ones after the deadline.

"Para saan pa ang PUV modernization kung hindi ito maipapatupad nang maayos, at kung ang kapalit ay pahirap sa ating mga kababayang commuter at sa maliliit na driver (For what will the PUV modernization be if it will not be implemented smoothly, and the tradeaway will be hardships for our public commuters and smalltime drivers)," Poe said.

She also mentioned that the PUVMP looms like a "death knell" to the drivers who have remained without cooperatives for valid reasons, such as the high cost of the new jeepney units.

"Every day, we hear commuters express their anxiety about the possibility of the lack of PUVs or spending more for alternative modes of transportation, which many would find painful on the pocket," she said.