Transport group PISTON strongly criticized the latest extension of the jeepney consolidation deadline, calling it another desperate attempt by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Marcos administration to pressure jeepney operators into complying with the government’s modernization program.
The decision, formalized in Memorandum Circular No. 2024-043 on December 5, 2024, grants additional time for operators with pending consolidation applications to meet the requirements of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
PISTON National President and Makabayan senatorial candidate Mody Floranda said the LTFRB has failed to address the flaws of the program. “The LTFRB cannot admit their program is a failure, so they just keep giving extensions as a quick fix,” Floranda said.
PISTON also said that many jeepney operators who submitted consolidation applications last year still have not received any updates or processing from the LTFRB.
“The government wants small operators to surrender their franchises to big corporations and cooperatives, so they can monopolize the routes,” Floranda added.