Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 25) — At least a thousand jeepney drivers and operators who consolidated their franchises have suffered financial loss, Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Final Word, Valbuena said these units have already stopped operating as they face large debts after joining cooperatives.
\”‘Yung equivalent ng tatlumpung kooperatiba na hindi na nakaka-byahe dahil sa laki ng utang ay umaabot na sa halos isang libo,\” he said.
[Translation: The equivalent of thirty cooperatives that are no longer able to travel due to the huge amount of the debt reaches almost a thousand.]
Valbuena said the data came from the Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, which he obtained during the House Committee on Transportation hearing early Wednesday morning.
Hours after the hearing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended the consolidation deadline for public utility vehicles (PUVs) to April 30 amid calls from lawmakers and transport groups to review the PUV modernization program.
READ: Marcos extends PUV franchise consolidation to April 30
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board earlier said all unconsolidated PUV units will no longer be allowed to operate and will be tagged as \”colorum\” or unregistered vehicle.
Valbuena said Manibela welcomed the deadline extension of consolidation but asserted that Marcos’ move remains far from what the transport group is pushing.
\”Ang panawagan namin sa pangulo ay ‘yung hindi mawala ang aming mga prangkisa at magpatuloy ang aming hanapbuhay kahit hindi kami nagco-consolidate,\” Valbuena said.
[Translation: Our call to the president is to not lose our franchises and continue our livelihood even if we do not consolidate.]
He also clarified that Manibela is not against the government’s PUV modernization program, only to some of its provisions such as franchise consolidation, saying it will only drown drivers in debt.
