Poe: Reopened PUV consolidation should resolve concerns of operators

Sen. Grace Poe said on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, that the reopened consolidation application for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators should address the concerns of those who previously opted out of the program. (File photo. Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe said on Wednesday that the reopened consolidation application for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators should address the concerns of those who previously opted out of the program.

Poe made the statement after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) released an order allowing unconsolidated PUV operators to apply for consolidation despite being past the deadline.

READ: DOTr allows consolidation for PUVs with previous authority to operate

The senator lauded the move, but reminded that the “devil is in the details.”

“Are the new guidelines responsive to the concerns earlier raised by the drivers and operators? Is there a new scheme to make the modern jeepney units more affordable? Are all routes covered?” Poe said in a statement.

“We expect the guidelines will be able to answer the misgivings and questions of our PUV drivers and operators to encourage them to take part in this program,” she added.

Poe then expressed hope that the DOTr, under the leadership of Secretary Vince Dizon, will be able to do the program right this time around.

The DOTr’s Department Order No. 2025-009 covers public utility jeepney (PUJ) and UV Express (UVE) operators with previous provisional authority (PAs) 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 (LTFRB) and registered with the Land Transportation Office for the year 2023 or 2024.

Eligible operators are then allowed to either join or form Transport Service Entities, or TSEs—referring to the legal entity of transport operators with pending applications for consolidations—in routes with at least 60 percent consolidated units, provided they previously held authority to operate there.

PAs granted to eligible operators will then be valid for one year and shall be subject to extension and renewal following the subsequent implementing guidelines to be issued by the LTFRB./coa