Drivers and operators rejected the Marcos administration’s offer of an additional 45 days to join the “public transport modernization program”, which pushes for forced franchise consolidation and jeepney phaseout. The Marcos administration’s offer will last from October 15 to November 29.

“We don’t need an extension of consolidation, but a cancellation of the fake modernization and the return of our individual franchises,” Piston said on October 18.

The regime offered the extension as an “ultimatum” for drivers and operators to join the scheme. But for Piston, this just shows that the state is admitting the program’s failure and that many routes have not joined the consolidation.

The group also condemned the regime for threatening to grant fuel subsidies only to consolidated operators. It is even using the increase in oil prices to intimidate them further.

“All that the cowardly and weak Marcos Jr and his agents, Bautista and Guadiz, can do is to threaten to apprehend, delay the renewal of registration, and withhold fuel subsidies from those who reject the program,” the group said. “They know that the masses of drivers and operators will not voluntarily accept the program.”

Manibela also rejected the extension. According to the group, it only proves that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) touted bogus data on the number of jeepneys that have consolidated their franchises.

In provinces where many drivers have been forced to consolidate, local governments are now pushing for the limiting routes. These schemes, in the form of “route rationalization”, are aimed at cutting the number of traditional jeepneys on the roads, even after they consolidated.