President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Yummie Dingding/PPA Pool)

The House Committee on Transportation has approved a resolution calling on President Marcos to reconsider the lapsed Dec. 31, 2023 deadline for the public utility vehicle (PUV) franchise consolidation.

During the panel's motu proprio inquiry on Wednesday, Jan. 24, Santa Rosa City lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez moved for the approval of a pre-drafted resolution urging the President and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to extend the franchise consolidation deadline until “the government can come up with a concrete plan to address the major issues in the implementation of the program”.

None of the attending solons objected to the motion. Panel chairman Antipolo City 2nd Rep. Romeo Acop carried the motion shortly.

The franchise consolidation is a focal part of the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP).

As the Dec.31 deadline had already lapsed, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is allowing drivers of "unconsolidated" jeepneys to continue plying routes only until the end of January 2024.

Data from the LTFRB bared that 38,000 out of 150,867 PUVs didn't join the consolidation process.

“While the intention of the PUVMP is beyond question and considering that the modernization of public transportation is long overdue, the needed reforms must be done in accordance with law and due process to ensure the protection of the affected stakeholders and the riding public in general,” the resolution read.

A motion to this effect was similarly introduced by Fernandez during an earlier hearing of the panel last Jan. 10, but the lack of quorum during the proceedings prevented it from getting approved.

Despite this, Acop ordered the committee secretary to create a draft resolution so it may be considered in the next hearing.

The Laguna solon has raised concern on the alleged corruption in the modernization program, as well as the need to preserve the iconic design of the Philippine jeepney in modern jeepneys.