THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said a total of 1,659 corporations and cooperatives are operating public utility vehicles (PUVs) nationwide.
The agency issued the statement in reaction to allegations against the government's PUV Modernization Program.
The DOTr belied accusations that so many people were defrauded by the program and the entire PUV system was consolidated into three bus companies.
"The statement reflects an utter ignorance of invariably the largest non-infrastructure project of the Duterte administration," the agency stated.
"At the outset, we categorically deny Bello’s accusations of corruption in the PUV Modernization Program. It is also not true that the whole PUV system has been consolidated into three bus companies," it added.
It also said that based on its records as of March 4, there were 131 consolidated operators.
"We believe in the basic principle that public transport is a public need for which government should address in a comprehensive and systematic manner," agency said.
The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is 10-component program that addresses key issues plaguing the decades-old problems in public transportation services in the country, according to the DOTr.
The agency cited the problem with so many franchises issued over decades which do not aptly address demand.
It said many franchises are issued on a route and this developed into a culture of on-street competition between bus operators and drivers.
PUVs are to run routes in an efficient, dependable, and systematic manner for the benefit of commuters, and not to compete against each other, according to the agency.
The DOTr also mentioned other issues including "boundary system" or simply the rent of the PUV, where drivers are entirely dependent on ridership.
Now that routes are run by qualified Transport Service Cooperatives (TSCs) and corporations, the drivers are paid on salary with benefits and are assured of security of tenure, the agency sai.
"We wish to express that no administration has ever gone this far in modernizing our country’s public transportation system in such a profound and comprehensive manner, adopting an all-inclusive approach, except the current administration," the DOTr said.