NCRPO: Roads 'generally peaceful' amid unconsolidated jeepney crackdown

The road situation in Metro Manila remained generally peaceful amid the crackdown on colorum public utility vehicles (PUV), including jeepneys, on Thursday, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.

“Sa ngayon, wala pa kaming nare-receive na nahuli pero generally peaceful pa naman po itong first day ng implementation,” NCRPO spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Eunice Salas told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(So far, we have not received any reports of apprehension but the first day of the implementation is still generally peaceful.)

“Wala pa kaming namo-monitor (na stranded passengers) pero meron din po kaming mobility assets na ready for deployment kung sakaling kailanganin po,” she added.

(We have not monitored any stranded passengers but we also have mobility assets that are ready for deployment if needed.)

The apprehension of unconsolidated PUVs will be implemented by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Authorities will check the serial number on the document issued by the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) displayed on their jeepneys during the operations that started on May 16," the LTFRB said in a statement.

Consolidated jeepneys should display their franchise documents on their dashboards or windshields to avoid apprehension, the LTFRB said.

All the records of apprehended PUVs will be provided by the LTO, MMDA, and PNP, according to the LTFRB.

On Wednesday, the LTFRB said that starting Thursday it will begin apprehending jeepney drivers who failed to consolidate into cooperatives.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said operators that did not apply to consolidate operations as part of the PUV Modernization Program after the April 30, 2024 deadline would already be considered illegal and their unconsolidated jeepneys would be deemed “colorum.”

“Dahil tapos na rin po ang binigay nating palugit para sa kanila para ‘wag na pong mag-byahe ‘yung mga hindi pa po nag-consolidate,” he said.

(Because the grace period that we gave them has already lapsed they should already stop plying their routes.)

Guadiz said that unconsolidated jeepney drivers found still plying routes starting Thursday might face a one-year suspension, while their PUV might get a P50,000 penalty and face a 30-day impoundment.

Due to this, around 50 unconsolidated jeepney drivers decided to stop operation along the Paco-Rotonda-Nagtahan route on Thursday, according to a report of Super Radyo dzBB’s Manny Vargas on Unang Balita.

“Paano po kami bibiyahe kung huhulihin kami ng LTFRB. Biyaheng-biyahe ho kami kung tutuusin lang kami mga driver ko rito puro may mga pamilya na pinapakain,” Paronajoda president Paul Dan Dela Cruz said.

(How can we operate if the LTFRB arrests us? We really want to operate because my drivers here have families to feed.)

Some passengers also lamented the crackdown against unconsolidated jeepneys.

“Dapat siguraduhin lang na may masasakyan ang mga tao dahil kawawa ang mga commuter ngayon walang masasakyan. Dapat dyan gawin ng gobyerno bago nila anuhin itong mga jeep na ito, may pangpalit na sila,” a passenger said.

(The government should ensure that people are still able to commute because, poor commuters, they are not able to get a ride today. The government should have secured substitutes before prohibiting unconsolidated jeepneys.) —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News