There will be no transportation crisis in Metro Manila amid the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) as 80 percent of operators and drivers were able to meet the April 30 deadline for consolidation, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said.
Citing the initial assessment more than a month after the April 30 deadline consolidation, Bautista said the PUV capacity is sufficient to service passengers in the National Capital Region.
“Overall, we have enough capacity. Those who were able to consolidate are offering required seats here in Metro Manila. In fact, there are more than enough PUVs plying certain routes, which requires the rationalization of routes through the Local Public Transport Route Plan, or LPTRP,” said Bautista.
The LPTRP is the second phase of the PUV Modernization Program after the consolidation phase.
It is a plan detailing the route network, mode, and required number of PUVs per mode for delivering land transport service, which shall be the minimum requirement prescribed for the issuance of PUV franchises.
While only a few local government units have submitted so far the LPTRP, Bautista said they are continuously working with local executives to rationalize routes in their respective areas of responsibility.
“With the finalization of this LTPRP, we will ensure a profitable and sustainable route and that would mean they could invest in modern vehicles,” said Bautista.