Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP)
The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) aims to replace the existing transportation vehicles, such as jeepneys, with modern ones to comply with environmental and safety standards. It also aims to upgrade or replace Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) that have served at least 15 years. Individual operators must cooperate by joining an existing entity or by creating a new one that requires at least 15 PUV operators, to continue operation.
timeline
2017
June 19
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued Department Order No. 2017-011, also known as the Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance or the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG), which introduced the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
2023
February 27
The Philippine Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that the deadline for consolidation would be June 30, 2023, which was then extended to December 31, 2023, due to transport groups such as PISTON, MANIBELA, and Laban TNVS, who were also supported by nearly 100,000 drivers and operators that threatened to stage a transport strike on March 6-12, 2023, claiming that the government’s lack of financial support for the operators who couldn't afford the high-cost transition and may potentially cause jeepney fares to increase which would also affect commuters and the livelihood of jeepney drivers.
2023
December 28
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista released a statement for jeepney operators to comply with the modernization program before the deadline, December 31, 2023, in order to continue operation. The said deadline was then again extended to April 30, 2024, to give an opportunity to those who planned to consolidate but missed the December cut-off.
2024
february 1
LTFRB Chairman, Teofilo Guadiz III, stated that PUV operators who will not comply with the consolidation under the PUVMP will be tagged as “colorum” under regulations the franchises of unconsolidated jeepneys will be revoked.
2024
April 30
83% transport groups have consolidated.
2024
july 31
DOTr is stil requesting for budget for the PUV modernization funding.
financial concerns
The modern eco-friendly jeepney proposed by the government currently costs around 1.4 to 1.6 million, while the traditional jeepney roughly cost between P150,000 - P200,000. Jeepney drivers would have to take out loans and earn around P6,000 - P7,000 a day to pay them if they were to comply with the transition of the proposed jeepney in the PUVMP.
The DOTr’s proposed budget for 2025 was raised to P180.9 billion, from P73.9 billion in the 2024 General Appropriations Act.