Davao City is exempt from the PUV franchise consolidation as it is implementing the Davao Bus Project, the city’s version of the government’s PUV modernization program.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB-11) made the clarification following the April 30,2024 deadline of the PUV franchise consolidation.

“Ang kining Davao City, they are not required to be a cooperative or a corporation. Walang deadline nga gi-set for Davao City, that would be depending on the implementation of the said program,” LTFRB-11 Director, Nonito Llanos III, said.

With the Davao Bus Project, modern buses will have to replace the jeepneys plying in the city in 2025. More than 1,000 buses are expected to travel regularly in 29 routes.

Transport group PISTON-Southern Mindanao opposed the transport modernization program as it will kill the livelihood of many jeepney drivers.

“Problema na pud ta sa commuters ma cope up ba sa mga bus karon nga ilang ginadeploy nga pila ramana ka bus makita nato nga di pa well-prepared,” PISTON-SMR Spokesperson, Larry Argilles, said.

OTHER AREAS

In other areas outside Davao City, the PUV consolidation rate is high.

According to the LTFRB-Zamboanga, 86.21 percent of the PUV franchises in the region has been consolidated. However, the agency said drivers who will likely be displaced because of the PUV modernization program could be recipients of other government programs.

“May enough equity subsidy kaya dapat magconsolidate lahat ng cooperative para yung cooperative mismo sila ang makiapag-deal sa banko. yung mga drivers na allegedly madidisplace, meron tayong mga programa ang gobyerno, example, entrepreneur program,” LTFRB-9 Director, Tommy Macadindang, said.

Meanwhile, 99 percent of the PUJ franchises in Northern Mindanao has been consolidated, according to the LTFRB-10.

The riding public should not worry also as the remaining one percent or around 50 PUJs that did not register their units to a cooperative will not cripple the public transportation.

“I do presume na ang magiging rason na hindi sila nag consolidate ayaw na nilang tumoloy sa transport business to accord them with due process we will issue show cause order,” LTFRB-10 Director, Abosamen Matuan, said.

The LTFRB gave a 15-day grace period for individual operators to answer the show cause order for not joining the franchise consolidation.

“May 1 hanggang may 15 they can still ply their route pero pagkatapos ng 15 we will be conducting anti-colorum operation,” Matuan added.