The Philippine government, through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), has decided to extend the deadline for the phaseout of traditional jeepneys under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) until the end of December 2023.
Concerns about a nationwide transport strike planned by transport groups, including Manibela, which has announced a week-long strike to protest the previous deadline (June 30) for the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.
The LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2023-013 outlines that single operators who do not comply with the consolidation requirement by the deadline will have their franchises or certificates of public convenience revoked. Additionally, franchises of non-consolidating operators will be transferred to the existing consolidated entity that operates on the same route.
However, according to the most recent LTFRB data, only 61% of the targeted 158,000 traditional jeepney units on the country's roads have met the PUVMP's consolidation requirements.
President Marcos expressed hope that the transportation unions would not go on strike for a week but admitted that the jeepney modernization program is "not urgent" because the country lacks the infrastructure to implement it.
The President also stated that workers will be affected if the transport strike goes ahead. He added that the government is willing to review the jeepney modernization program to ensure it is not too burdensome for transportation workers.
Meanwhile, the Taguig Transport Service Cooperative criticized Manibela members for organizing the strike, claiming that jeepney drivers and operators have had sufficient time since the program's inception in 2017 to hold public consultations and join cooperatives to afford modern units.
The extension of the PUVMP's phaseout deadline for traditional jeepneys aims to provide jeepney drivers and operators more time to comply with the consolidation requirement and modernize their vehicles.
The government hopes that this will address transportation groups' concerns about the impact of the jeepney modernization program on drivers' and operators' livelihoods.