'97% of PUVs in Metro Manila consolidated'

The Manila Times

'97% of PUVs in Metro Manila consolidated'  Ninety-seven percent of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in Metro Manila have consolidated as part of a government requirement to continue plying their routes under the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP), Andy Ortega, chairman of the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC), says in an interview with The Manila Times, citing data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Ortega said there is also a high number of PUV consolidation nationwide. He assures that the PUVMP will benefit both commuters and the drivers.   Video and interview by Ezrah Raya  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes  #reeltimes #exclusiveinterview

Transcript

00:00 I'm Esra Raya and this is the Manila Times.

00:03 The Transport Department and the LTFRB have asked the Supreme Court

00:07 to junk the petition of transport groups Pistón and Manibela

00:12 in a bid to halt, once again, the PUV modernization program.

00:16 Transport regulators earlier said that those who failed to consolidate by December 31st of last

00:22 year could only operate until January 31st of this month, meaning by February 1st the permits

00:30 of those unconsolidated PUV operators will have been revoked.

00:35 By estimates, half of the jeepneys will be banned from plying the streets.

00:40 The modernization program aims to replace jeepneys that are 15 or more years old

00:45 with newer and more environmental-friendly units,

00:49 as well as consolidate operators and drivers into cooperatives and corporations.

00:55 Jeepney transport groups Manibela and Pistón staged a protest caravan nationwide just this week

01:01 for yet another attempt to resist the unstoppable PUV modernization program.

01:07 Here with us today is the Office of the Transport Cooperative,

01:11 Chairman Andy Ortega.

01:14 Welcome to the Manila Times, sir.

01:16 Hi, good afternoon, Ezra and our friends with Manila Times.

01:21 I am Andy Ortega, the Chair of the Office of Transportation Cooperatives,

01:27 the smallest office in the OTR.

01:30 And I have here Celino Jerónimo and Romel Lorena and Ramil Orella.

01:41 So we are here this afternoon to give our answers to questions

01:47 and to be able to help your viewers and our friends in media any answers that are needed.

01:55 Thank you.

01:55 Thank you so much, Chairman Ortega.

01:58 So sir, January 31 is the deadliest deadline.

02:02 So the jeeps who did not consolidate last December 31st

02:07 cannot run again come February 1.

02:10 So I guess, sir, first let's start with the numbers.

02:13 So how many of all the PUVs are actually consolidated?

02:18 As for the latest number from LTFRB, there are supposedly 191,000 plus

02:30 that are supposedly with franchise.

02:33 But actual registration or consolidation reached 146,000.

02:41 So in percentage-wise, we have a number of 76% that actually consolidated nationwide.

02:53 So it's 76%.

02:55 Would you like me to go to NCR now?

02:58 Yes, sir.

02:59 So that's nationwide, 76% consolidated.

03:02 That's right.

03:03 The stats have been in NCR, the National Capital.

03:06 That's right.

03:06 In NCR, this is the more interesting topic.

03:12 So in NCR, we have a percentage of 52%.

03:18 It's 52.54.

03:21 This is based on the number of consolidated, 21,000 plus,

03:28 and the franchise in NCR, which was around 41,000.

03:36 So we came up with 52.

03:38 But LTFRB continued with their numbers and continued with their investigation.

03:46 And there is a new number that we would like to discuss with you.

03:53 In the 41,000 plus that are franchise of NCR,

03:58 the actual number of this franchise that actually registered with LTO--

04:06 [INAUDIBLE]

04:06 --registered with the LTO.

04:08 I'll just give you in thousands.

04:10 I'll give you that later.

04:12 Our actual registered, 2020, was 22,000 plus.

04:19 So if we will base that 21,000 plus that got consolidated,

04:26 and the number that is actually registered last year, '22,

04:31 [INAUDIBLE]

04:32 52% and then consolidate based on the registered, it came to as high as 97%.

04:39 So you and I may be numbers that we could be discussing now.

04:46 97%.

04:49 That's right.

04:49 Just to clarify, sir, the franchises are around 41,000.

04:57 But if we look more, because you have to register your vehicles with the LTO,

05:05 the total is around 22,000 plus.

05:09 That's right.

05:10 And out of that 22,000 PUVs, which are very legal

05:16 and has all the franchises and all the licenses operate,

05:20 21,000 have registered so far.

05:23 So you've reached 97%.

05:25 Yes, yes, yes.

05:27 So you knew about a very revealing number.

05:30 Because it's really hard to know or understand,

05:33 why are there so many franchises?

05:36 This is how little is consolidated.

05:38 But if you look at the actual numbers that are flying,

05:41 comparing it during the time of a strike,

05:45 or during the time of a stopover,

05:47 it seems that those that were affected, it's not 48%, right?

05:53 It's not that big.

05:54 So it looks real that the actual ones that should be flying,

06:00 it's really not the 41,000, but only the 22,000.

06:03 And of course, I know it's really hard to monitor those colorum jeepneys that are running,

06:08 that don't have the right license and franchise.

06:10 So with the 97% turn up with the consolidation in NCR,

06:15 nationwide, will this bring the nationwide consolidation number?

06:21 Is it still 76%?

06:22 Yeah, based on that comparison, definitely the 76% should go high.

06:29 But I think what LTFRB is doing now,

06:32 they're concentrating on NCR first.

06:35 Because of course, in terms of consolidation,

06:37 the lowest is NCR.

06:40 So they're really looking at the numbers,

06:42 they're looking at what's needed,

06:44 they're looking at what's right.

06:46 So they concentrated with NCR.

06:50 But I'm sure eventually, nationwide, there will be some difference.

06:57 Yeah, definitely.

06:58 The number of people who complied to the PUV modernization program of the government is also very high.

07:06 So what will happen to those drivers

07:08 who maybe because almost all of their colleagues have consolidated,

07:15 so maybe they want to chase after them?

07:18 Will they be given a chance, sir?

07:19 Yeah, it's like this.

07:21 In terms of the order deadline confirmed, no extension,

07:27 there's no more process that those who did not consolidate can still join after December 31.

07:36 But what is good, because you know Secretary Bautista,

07:41 he has this heart for the drivers, operators.

07:45 There are still talks going on amidst this deadline

07:50 on how we can help the operators and drivers.

07:57 For example, on the part of UNTC,

08:00 we've been contacting different co-ops,

08:04 transpo, co-op, nationwide, and everybody we've talked to raised their hands

08:10 to help the jeepney drivers.

08:13 Because remember, the jeepney drivers are dependent on their operators.

08:17 If their operator did not consolidate,

08:19 so supposedly on February 1, the operator's jeepney did not consolidate,

08:25 what will happen to the driver?

08:27 So we've asked the co-operatives and they are very much willing

08:32 to accept our jeepney drivers to join co-operatives or maybe corporations

08:40 so that their work can continue in these co-ops.

08:46 Because other co-operatives who are consolidated,

08:50 they need drivers, they need drivers to help.

08:54 So going to what you said about the deadline

08:57 and going to what I said that there are still talks

09:00 from the level of Secretary Bautista on how to help further,

09:05 hopefully we could come up with certain improvements, changes, developments

09:12 so that we can help those who did not consolidate.

09:15 So let's see in the next days or so.

09:18 That's very good to hear, sir.

09:20 I was able to speak with Mar Valbuena and Bo Di Floranda of Manibela in Pistón.

09:27 The reason they were fighting off consolidation, sir,

09:29 because they said that big corporations are taking over the routes in the country.

09:36 So their usual routes are being replaced by corporations

09:40 that own mini-buses or the modern jeepney that we know of today.

09:46 So if you can refresh us again, sir,

09:49 what are the major benefits of the jeepney drivers by consolidating,

09:54 by joining corporations and co-operatives?

09:57 I'll answer their accusations about taking over if it's okay.

10:03 First of all, this office is the office of the transportation co-operatives.

10:08 We are biased for co-operatives, meaning we will protect the co-operatives.

10:16 So the co-operatives who are supposedly small as compared to corporations,

10:21 the members here are the drivers, operators,

10:25 and those that work with the transportation industry that are small in society.

10:31 That's why we are here to help them, make them strong, competent,

10:37 in running the business of their co-operative, which is the transportation business,

10:44 because precisely those accusations that corporations might take over,

10:51 in the level of OTC, we will not allow it,

10:56 by making them strong, capable, competent, and financially viable.

11:00 So that's the objective of OTC.

11:04 Now going back to the benefits,

11:06 maybe Celino will talk about the benefits of being a member of a co-operative.

11:14 Good afternoon, to all of our listeners and viewers.

11:18 The benefits of being a member and employee of a transport co-operative is,

11:25 like for example what the chairman said,

11:27 that if the operator is not able to enter the consolidation,

11:32 the driver will not be able to leave.

11:35 So our transport co-operatives, especially those that are modernized,

11:40 are willing to accept them as employees, as drivers.

11:44 Now if they are employed as drivers of these transport co-operatives,

11:51 they are assured that they will have income when they reach the possible salary,

11:56 the possible 1530, assured of regular income,

12:00 and because they are employed,

12:02 they are assured of the social insurances that our government requires,

12:09 such as SSS, PAN-IBIG, and PILIR,

12:13 which they are not able to accept when they are drivers of individual operators.

12:19 And then, as a driver member,

12:24 if they have a capital share in a co-operative and the co-operative has earned income after a year,

12:31 their capital share in the co-operative will have a dividend or interest on capital share,

12:38 and if the co-operative has other businesses that are patronized by the members,

12:44 they are still entitled to patronage repayment.

12:48 Thank you Sir Celino Jeronimo.

12:50 So aside from the absence of individual franchises, as you said,

12:56 they will have a monthly salary that is assured,

12:59 and aside from that, there are benefits and dividends to their co-operatives.

13:06 So there are many benefits to being a part of a co-operative.

13:11 So my last question is,

13:13 will there be a shortage of PUVs for commuters in February 1?

13:23 Do you think there will be a shortage?

13:25 Number one, we're concerned about that because what we want is always what's good for our commuters.

13:34 I will quote or rather state what the original director of the LTFRBC, Zola Tamayo, mentioned.

13:43 Because she turfed the NCR.

13:45 She does not see that problem, meaning major problem, about concerns about our transport to the NCR.

13:55 Because you've heard the number, 97%.

14:01 But of course, even with that, we coordinated with DILG/LGUs of Metro Manila, PNP, MMDA,

14:12 because these are the agencies that we've been with several times,

14:17 in several stop-and-go, several strikes,

14:21 to always monitor and support our commuters in these events.

14:27 So we will not say we feel confident.

14:31 We feel like we prepared enough and we will really monitor that.

14:36 Because the important thing is to lessen the transition problem, possible problems in February 1.

14:45 There are modes of transportation that could assist.

14:49 There are consolidated co-operatives in many routes

14:55 that could help the routes that are slightly consolidated,

15:01 and basically in the small streets.

15:03 But still, we will give support.

15:06 So on the part of the government, we are prepared and we will still improve our preparation because it's important.

15:14 The past weeks, we've been talking about the drivers, the operators, LTFRB, the government.

15:23 We forgot that PU-BMP is really all about the commuters.

15:28 At the end of the day, this was done for the commuters, of course, for the environment,

15:37 of course, for the drivers, operators.

15:40 But the difference in improvement, this is not a modernization of vehicles only.

15:47 That is just part of it.

15:49 This is the modernization of running the business of transportation

15:55 so that there is convenience, more safe traveling.

16:03 The vehicles are not in a hurry or the driver is on the right, but on the back.

16:12 It's dangerous in an accident.

16:14 If you're in an airplane, in the rain or in the sun, you will feel the same feeling

16:21 as if it's hot in the sun, in the rain, cold or wet.

16:26 But here, consistency, reliability.

16:30 Instead of your vehicle being gone during rush hour or the night,

16:35 the jeepney driver is sleeping.

16:37 This is with a modern fleet management.

16:40 Your transportation will run for 24 hours, even if there is a rush hour,

16:45 even if it's late at night, after you finish the call center, you won't take a taxi.

16:50 You will ride a modern jeepney because there is one available and it's cheap

16:57 as compared to a taxi and the environment effect-wise.

17:01 So the truth here is that the commuters or what we call the passengers

17:06 will have all the advantages for us to go into this PUVMP.

17:11 So that's your main objective.

17:13 But while going to that objective, we will never forget the drivers, the operators.

17:20 That's our direction together to achieve what is good for all.

17:25 But we have to bring everybody in the program as much as we can.

17:30 Very well said, Chairman Ortega.

17:34 Thank you very much, Office of the Transportation Cooperatives.

17:38 Thank you to Sir Romel Ramil, Sir Celino, and again, Chairman Ortega.

17:42 Thank you very much.

17:44 [MUSIC]

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