PISTON files petition to allow unconsolidated jeepneys’ registration 

Transport group PISTON on Monday filed a petition with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow the registration of unconsolidated jeepneys.

“Ngayong araw, nagsumite tayo ng petisyon sa LTFRB na payagang makapagpa-rehistro ang mga jeep na ginigipit nila dahil sa [Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program],” PISTON said in a statement. 

(Today, we submitted a petition to the LTFRB to allow the registration of the jeepneys they are pressuring because of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.)

“Sa mga kasama namin sa hanapbuhay at sa mga mahal naming mga pasahero, ito ang klase ng gobyerno natin ngayon—walang konsensya at walang ibang pinagsisilbihan kundi ang malalaking negosyante’t mga dayuhan,” it added.

(To those who work in the same livelihood and to our dear passengers, this is the kind of government we have today—it has no conscience and serves no one but big businessmen and foreigners.)

Started in 2017, the PUVMP, now called Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution. It also aims to replace units that are not deemed roadworthy.

A modern jeepney unit costs over P2 million, an amount that state-run banks LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines said was too expensive for PUV drivers and operators.

The consolidation of individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations is the initial stage of the modernization program.

In August 2024, the DOTr said the program had proceeded to the route rationalization stage, or the assignment of routes and the determination if there are enough units for the routes in each LGU.

PISTON also condemned the Oil Deregulation Law, which was enacted exactly 27 years ago, blaming it for crippling the income and livelihoods of drivers and consumers. 

“Ngayon, sa isang beses na oil price hike, ubos na agad ang isang linggong kita ng tsuper [Now, with a one-time oil price hike, a driver's weekly income is gone immediately],” PISTON national president Mody Floranda said. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA Integrated News