LTFRB moves deadline for traditional jeepney consolidation to June

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday extended the deadline for traditional jeepney franchise holders to consolidate or join existing cooperatives in order to continue their operations.

Under LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2023-013, traditional jeep drivers and operators are required to join a cooperative or form a corporation before a set deadline to extend the validity of their provisional authority (PA) or franchise.

The LTFRB said operators and drivers can still join jeepney routes that already have a cooperative or corporation, and routes that have pending applications for their formation until June 30.

The agency previously set a March deadline for traditional jeepney consolidation, but transport groups objected. 

Should they successfully join a cooperative or corporation, the LTFRB said operators and drivers will have the chance to extend the validity of their franchise until the end of the year.

Meanwhile, operators who ply routes that have not yet formed a cooperative or corporation and have not filed an application can still form a juridical entity until June 30.

The said entity must be accredited under the Office of the Transport Cooperative, or registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission until Aug. 31.

Such entities must also file an application for franchise consolidation before Oct. 31 in order to extend the validity of their PA.

The LTFRB said it hopes the extension will encourage more operators and drivers to join a cooperative or form a corporation as part of the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.