By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 6 (LTFRB-6) announced a final opportunity for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators to consolidate under the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) until Nov. 29.
Atty. Salvador “Jun” Altura, LTFRB-6 legal officer, told Daily Guardian that the agency received Memorandum Circular No. 2024-039 on Sunday, outlining guidelines for transport service entities (TSE) to accept additional members.
“The consolidation will be allowed until Nov. 29, meaning vehicles that missed previous deadlines can consolidate this time,” he said, adding that consolidation begins immediately as of Monday, Nov. 4.
The memorandum, obtained by Daily Guardian, clarified that operators must join existing TSEs rather than form new ones.
The TSEs must file an amendment to their original consolidation applications no later than Nov. 29.
Altura noted that local government units (LGUs) without approved Local Public Transport Route Plans (LPTRP) may allow individual operators to create a judicial entity for consolidation.
Iloilo City Exempted
Altura stated that Iloilo City is “detached from the consolidation process” and will not have additional consolidation since its enhanced LPTRP was approved and fully implemented in May 2024.
“Consolidation applies to LGUs without an LPTRP, including Negros Occidental, Iloilo province, Antique, Guimaras, Capiz, and their capital towns and cities,” he added.
As of June 2024, only three LGUs in Western Visayas had approved LPTRPs: Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Kabankalan City, and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.
While Bacolod, Kabankalan, and La Carlota have approved LPTRPs, Altura noted that these LGUs still have a low number of consolidated units.
“Bacolod City’s studies show its authorized units under the LPTRP are insufficient, with only a 60 percent consolidation rate,” he explained.
“We have advised cooperatives to prepare the documents needed for additional consolidation, and we are confident they will meet the deadline.”
Altura mentioned that they are not targeting specific figures for Panay Island, citing an over 80 percent consolidation rate there as of April 30.
“Any additional consolidation in Panay Island will likely be minimal, but we expect significant numbers in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental,” he added.
As of April 30, LTFRB-6 reported a regional consolidation rate of 77.2 percent, representing 6,584 units out of 8,534 baseline units.
Bacolod City recorded the lowest rate at 50 percent or 1,151 units, followed by Iloilo City at 75 percent or 1,692 units.
Other consolidation rates were as follows: Iloilo province at 99 percent (1,953 units), Guimaras at 98 percent (165 units), Antique at 97 percent (380 units), Negros Occidental at 91 percent (424 units), Aklan at 89 percent (422 units), and Capiz at 82 percent (397 units).
The LTFRB received several motions from TSEs and individual franchise holders, filed before and after the April 30 deadline, requesting permission to allow additional members to join existing TSEs.
LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III announced the reopening of consolidation on Oct. 15 in response to a Senate request.
In September, 22 of the 23 senators signed Senate Resolution 1096, urging the government to temporarily suspend the PUV Modernization Program.
