President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday announced that the April 30 deadline for the franchise consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUVs) will no longer be extended.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Concerns, Marcos was asked by a representative of the transport sector about the nearing deadline for consolidation of franchises PUVs.

“Wala na pong extension, kailangan na kailangan na natin ‘yan (No more extensions, we really need that already),” Marcos responded.

“Titiyakin lang natin na hindi mapabigat ang babayaran at iuutang ng driver at operator kaya ginagawa nating maayos at ginagawa nating well organized ‘yung sistema (We just have to make sure that the drivers and operators will not be burdened with the payment and loan, so we are making the system well organized),” he added.

The consolidation requires PUV operators to form cooperatives or corporations to access business financing in acquiring modern jeepney units.

It is part of the government’s PUV modernization program that started in 2017.

Failure to meet the consolidation deadline will result in the revocation of franchises of non-compliant operators, essentially barring them from operating.

The deadline for consolidation application was originally set for Dec. 31, 2023, but the President approved the recommendation of the Department of Transportation to extend the deadline to April 30, 2024. (PNA)