BAGUIO City officials have requested the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to extend the period for applications for consolidation of the city’s various transport groups and cooperatives.
Under Resolution No. 285, series of 2021, the city council stated that the LTFRB-CAR should take into account the livelihoods of the affected public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and their services to the public.
The officials also said that under humanitarian consideration, the LTFRB-CAR should issue provisional authority to both consolidated and non-consolidated franchises as livelihoods are fragile in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
On June 19, 2017, the Department of Transportation and Railways (|DOTR) issued Department Order No. 2017-011 or the omnibus guidelines on the planning and identification of public road transportation services and franchise issuance, otherwise known as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
As part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), operators are mandated to be part of a cooperative or cooperation to consolidate franchises under a single juridical entity that owns a single franchise and operates their specific routes.
The consolidation also requires the replacement of old PUJ units to modern Euro-4 compliant units, which many operators are unable to afford.
On July 10, 2020, the LTFRB issued Memorandum Circular No. 220-027 extending the period for the filing of application for consolidation up to December 31, 2020.
