A LOCAL association of modern public utility vehicle (MPUV) operators has urged the Marcos administration to fully implement the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) and phase out traditional jeepneys nationwide.
Ellen Maghanoy, chairperson of Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperative (FCTC), said in a press conference on Monday, March 24, 2025, that the absence of a consistent policy direction from the National Government has stalled the program’s progress and affected planning and investments in the transport sector.
In Metro Manila, transport group Manila is holding a three-day transport strike, from March 24 to 26, to protest against PTMP, formerly known as the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.
The strike aims to protest the alleged misinterpretation of consolidated PUV operator and driver figures under the PTMP by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has bared that of the around 86 percent of PUVs which have applied for consolidation, only around 40 percent have been approved.
The LTFRB earlier said that 86 percent of the PUVs across the country were already consolidated in compliance with the PTMP.
Support
As for FCTC, Maghanoy said the group supported the PTMP since it was launched in 2017 under administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte, but the government’s inconsistent implementation has caused confusion among stakeholders.
The PTMP seeks to replace old public utility vehicles with modern units equipped with at least Euro 4-compliant engines to reduce emissions and improve transport services. However, the program has faced opposition from some transport groups, with legal challenges filed before the Supreme Court.
Dizon has considered a temporary suspension of the program to allow for review.
The Department of Transportation has yet to announce whether traditional jeepneys will be allowed to renew their provisional authority and continue operations.
Maghanoy said the FCTC and its member cooperatives have created 5,000 jobs and supported more than 3,000 families through various programs, including relief operations and Brigada Eskwela.
She said the lack of clear guidelines on the modernization program has affected long-term planning and urged the National Government to involve transport cooperatives in policy discussions.
Maghanoy said modernization should be a joint effort between the government and transport stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition, protect livelihoods and improve public transport services. / EHP, TPM / SunStar Philippines