MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DoTr) stood firm in its decision not to extend the deadline for the consolidation of operators to comply with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
“The PUV consolidation deadline (December 31) stays,” the DoTr said in a statement issued on Thursday even as the Supreme Court ordered the department and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to comment on the petition filed against them by public utility jeepney operators and transport groups seeking to nullify government issuances concerning the PUVMP
The DoTr said the PUVMP has gained the support of 70 percent of PUV operators.
“We express our utmost support to all operators and drivers who have embraced the full implementation of the PUVMP,” it said.
The DoTr gave assurances that the government is committed to making the program work as it will provide commuters cleaner and safer means of public transportation.
In its order issued on Thursday, the Supreme Court gave the DoTr and the LTFRB a non-extendible period of 10 days to comment on the petition for certiorari and prohibition with urgent application for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction filed by public transport operators and groups led by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston).
The consolidation deadline has been the subject of protests by transport groups who sought to extend the December 31 deadline for franchise consolidation. They claimed that mandatory franchise consolidation would lead to the phaseout of traditional jeepneys which will automatically take away the livelihood of drivers and operators.
