President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the extension for franchise consolidation under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), providing an opportunity to those who want to consolidate, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista’s recommendation, granting an additional three months until April 30, 2024 for the consolidation of public utility vehicles,” *the PCO said in a statement on Wednesday.*

“This extension is to give an opportunity to those who expressed intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off.”

The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said public utility vehicles totalling 190,000 units, comprising of UV Express, PUJs, mini-buses and buses, have availed of consolidation.

As of the mid-January, UV express was able to achieve 82 percent consolidation; jeepneys, 75 percent; buses, 86 percent; and mini-buses, 45 percent, the LTFRB said.

The government started to carry out the modernization program in 2017 and has so far established 1,728 cooperatives and corporations with 262,344 members.

It has been implementing the PUVMP to address both the aggravating transport-related problems and the future transportation demand of the country.

The program aims to fundamentally transform the public transport system in the country making both commuting and public transportation operations more dignified, humane, and on par with global standards.

It also seeks to provide the Filipino commuter a comfortable ride by providing a safer, more efficient, reliable, convenient, affordable, climate-friendly, and environmentally sustainable transportation system in the country. PND