DOTr reopens application for PUV consolidation under modernization program

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday announced the reopening of the application for the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

In a Facebook post, the DOTr said Secretary Vince Dizon signed Department Order No. 2025-009 on Tuesday.

“Pinirmahan na ni Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon ang Department Order No. 2025-009, na muling nagbubukas sa application ng consolidation, at nagbibigay ng guidelines para sa mga individual operators at drivers na hindi pa nagko-consolidate,” the DOTr said.

(Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has signed Department Order No. 2025-009, which reopens the application for consolidation, and provides guidelines for individual operators and drivers who have not yet consolidated.)

The subject of the department order was titled “Guidelines on the Reopening of Applications for Consolidation and Issuance of Provisional Authorities for Unconsolidated Individual Operators."

The order covers public utility jeepney and UV Express operators who failed to consolidate or with pending application or motion to accept consolidation and with units confirmed with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and registered with the Land Transportation Office for the year 2023 or 2024.

Started in 2017, the 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 even 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 program.

After the April 30, 2024 deadline for consolidation, unconsolidated PUVs were deemed "colorum" or operating without a franchise.

The application for the consolidation was reopened from October 15 to November 29, 2024.

In March this year, Dizon expressed openness to some changes in the government’s PTMP to address the concerns of transport groups.

“Absolutely, we're open to changes. This time it would be different. We would be open to changes because clearly there are some issues that need to be resolved,” he earlier said.

According to Dizon, around 86% of public utility vehicles (PUV) have applied for consolidation as the initial part of the modernization program. However, he said only around 40% have been approved.—AOL, GMA Integrated News