THE Office for Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) said today that Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers can still be part of transport cooperatives and continue their livelihood once the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) circular allowing unconsolidated Transport Service Entities (TSEs) to ply their routes takes effect on January 31.
OTC Chairman Andy Ortega also clarified that operators can also join transport cooperatives and corporations as some operators are drivers of their own PUV units.
“Hindi lang mga drivers, kasi remember ang mga nagdecide na hindi magconsolidate are operators. So, yung mga drivers at mga operators kailangan nila ng trabaho,” Ortega said during a briefing with LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III and LTFRB NCR Regional Director Zona Russet Tamayo.
“Kasi yung mga operator, driver din yun. Pwede silang magapply, sumama sa isang kooperatiba para maging driver din [ng transport cooperative,” he added.
The transport officials were joined by transport cooperatives.
Ortega recounted that until November 2023, there were at least 65 transport groups who joined the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) which, according to them, paid instant dividends for its members.
In December 2023, 105 groups have eventually joined the PUVMP, beating the deadline for consolidation last December 31, he said.
“For the year 2023 alone, 65 ang nagpa-accredit as transport cooperatives. For December alone 105 [coops] ang nag-inquire and eventually nag-apply for cooperative and then consolidation,” Ortega said, adding that the newly consolidated groups were happy with their decision to form their respective cooperatives and join the program.
“Natutuwa sila na they made their decision to join the program and also for them to continue yung livelihood nila,” he said.