MANIBELA still hopeful Marcos will extend deadline for PUV consolidation

Transport group MANIBELA is still hoping that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will change his position regarding the deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) operators set on December 31, 2023. 

MANIBELA chairman Mar Valbuena said in an ANC interview on Tuesday that the majority of their members have not yet consolidated under the PUV modernization program (PUVMP) and that only 20% have been able to comply with less than a week before the deadline. 

“Kahit na alam natin na ang Pangulo na ang nagsalita, umaasa tayo na bago matapos ang taon ay magkaron siya ng puso at magkaron ng awa dito sa mga mawawalan ng trabaho na mga drivers at operators,” Valbuena said. 

(Even if the President has already spoken, we are still hoping that he will change his heart and have mercy on the drivers and operators who will lose their jobs.) 

Marcos previously declared that there will be no extension of the year end deadline for the PUV consolidation, pointing out that 70% of PUV operators "have already committed to and consolidated” under the PUVMP.

Last week, several transport groups filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to stop the implementation of the PUVMP. 

Valbuena said that they are also hoping that the SC will issue a temporary restraining order against the implementation of the PUVMP before the year ends. 

“Kung hindi man talaga tayo mapagbibigyan [ng Pangulo], umaasa tayo sa Supreme Court. Kung hindi pa rin tayo mapakinggan pati ng Supreme Court ay ayun ay paguusapan pa namin,” he said. 

(If the President won’t really heed our call, we are hoping that the Supreme Court will.If the Supreme Court comes out with an unfavorable ruling, then we have to determine our next steps.) 

“Ang nakikita ko rito, bukod sa transport crisis, ay sunod-sunod na protesta ito.”

(This could lead to a possible transport crisis and several protests.)

MANIBELA and PISTON are currently in the midst of a two-week nationwide transport strike from December 18 to 29 in protest of the PUV operator consolidation. 

They have earlier indicated that they are ready to extend the strike even beyond December 29 if their clamor would fall on deaf ears.

Transmission-Piston Southern Mindanao, meanwhile, said that they will also hold a city-wide transport strike on Wednesday in protest of the PUV consolidation and the Davao Bus Project. 

Around 80% of PUV drivers in the region are expected to participate in the transport strike, which worried several commuters.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said they are now coordinating with the City Transport and Traffic Management Office regarding the matter. They are also seeking help from bus operators to help passengers who will be stranded because of the strike.  —Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News