All PUVs allowed to renew registration – LTO

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said that all public utility vehicles (PUVs) would be allowed to renew their registration amid the consolidation deadline extension ordered by President Marcos.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said this also covers Filcabs and UV Express units as long as they have obtained confirmation from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“Upon compliance with all registration requirements, it is ministerial on the part of the LTO to process the registration of all transport service entities upon proper issuance of the LTFRB confirmation,” Mendoza said in a memorandum dated Feb. 2.

The LTFRB said that it would allow the late confirmation of Filcabs, jeepneys and UV Express units with plates ending in 1 up to Feb. 9.

It also waived the penalty for the non-confirmation of units in a board resolution dated Feb. 1.

The LTFRB said that this will help facilitate the transition of the consolidation deadline to April 30 from the previous Dec. 31, 2023 deadline.

“The board deems it necessary to reconsider its imposition of appropriate penalties for non-confirmation during the said period of transition to the new extension,” it said.

Unconsolidated PUVs will be allowed to operate until the new deadline, as long as they have registered with the LTO and have a valid personal passenger accident insurance coverage.

The LTFRB last week issued Memorandum Circular 2024-011 that set the guidelines for the filing of applications for consolidation amid the extension.

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