LTFRB: PUV operators may choose cooperatives

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will allow public utility vehicle operators to enter or withdraw from cooperatives under its newly released guidelines.

This comes following President Marcos’ order to extend the consolidation deadline to April 30.

Operators of jeepneys and UV Express units may apply for consolidation or withdraw their memberships in a cooperative under memorandum circular 2024-001.

The memo was signed on Jan. 30 by board members Riza Marie Paches and Mercy Jane Leynes as LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz was on leave.

It allows the consolidation of operators for existing rationalized routes without consolidated entities or routes that have less than 40 percent consolidation rate.

Otherwise, unconsolidated operators may join the existing transport service entities (TSE) on these routes.

Individual members can also withdraw their membership without the Office of Transport Cooperatives’ endorsement.

The memo also extended the provisional authority of unconsolidated operators until April 30, as long as the vehicles are registered with the Land Transportation Office and have valid insurance coverage.

The consolidation deadline ended on Dec. 31, 2023 but was extended by Marcos following a recommendation by Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista.

A total of 313 routes in Metro Manila did not have any consolidated TSEs, compared to 544 routes with consolidated entities.

Transport groups Manibela and Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide said while they welcome the extension, they want the government to remove all deadlines and to review the modernization policies.