Route rationalization, modern PUVs, next steps in PTMP

MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has moved onto the next stage in its Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), the proper assignment of routes and the purchase of modern public utility vehicles (PUV).

Jonathan Gesmundo, Executive Assistant to the DOTr Secretary, said the consolidation phase of the PTMP is officially over with no more plans for an extension.

However, he said those who have submitted documents intending to consolidate but still have incomplete requirements have six more months to comply.

"Bibigyan sila ng mga anim na buwan para mabuo iyong lahat ng dokumentong kailangan, iyon nga ay para ma-beat nila iyong deadline kahapon (We will give them six months to complete their documentary requirements, that's so they can beat the deadline on April 30)," Gesmundo said in a televised Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing over PTV on Wednesday.

The next step in the PTMP, he said, is the proper assignment of PUV routes to these transport cooperatives by their respective local government units (LGU).

"Iyong LGU ay bibigyan sila ng ruta, ia-assign ang isang kooperatiba doon sa ruta. So, depende nga kasi iyan, kasi hindi DOTr hindi LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ang magsasabing dito sa ruta na ito, it is the LGU (The LGU will assign cooperatives to their routes. It would depend on the LGU, not the DOTr nor the LTFRB)," he said.

He said LGUs would decide as they know whether enough PUVs are plying a certain route.

For transport cooperatives and companies, he said it is now time to process the bank loans they need to purchase modern PUVs that are required under the PTMP.

"Kailangan nilang makumpleto iyong mga dokumento para makautang sila sa bangko para makabili sila ng bagong unit. Marami pang mga components iyan, doon kami nakatuon ngayon (They need to complete the documentary requirements for a bank loan to purchase a new unit. There are still a lot of components, but that's where we're focusing)," he said.

While the final data on consolidation is still being calculated, he said that the total percentage of consolidated PUVs has reached 78 to 79 percent, with the LTFRB confident that it will reach 80 percent.

"Hindi ito aabot ng 100% dahil maraming mga units na for iba ibang dahilan ay hindi na sumali sa consolidation (We didn't expect it to reach 100 percent because there are many PUVs that did not consolidate for different reasons)," he said.

He reiterated that PUVs who failed to comply with consolidation are now considered "colorum" or unregistered.

However, he said these PUVs will not immediately be apprehended but instead, be asked to explain why they failed to consolidate.

"Pero, after mga two weeks daw sabi ng sa LTFRB at saka na-evaluate na, nabigyan ng mga sulat, na-evaluate na iyong paliwanag at saka lang magkakaroon ng kampanya para iyong nagpupumilit pang pumasada kahit naka-consolidate doon pa lang daw magkakahulihan (After two weeks, after they've been sent a letter, their response has been evaluated, that's when the LTFRB will begin their apprehension campaign against non-consolidated PUVs)," he said.

The consolidation component of the PTMP – formerly called the PUV Modernization Program – ended on Tuesday after months of extension following clamor from PUV operators who have failed to meet the previous deadlines but wish to join the government program.

The PUVMP, which started in 2017, aims to overhaul the country's public road transport by replacing old PUVs with modern ones that have Euro 4-compliant engines and the use of fleet management and route rationalization. (PNA)