Ordinary jeepney drivers and operators’ groups condemned the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for issuing Memorandum Circular No. 2024-043 on December 5, which aims to extend the deadline for the mandatory consolidation of jeepney franchises anew. They argue that this move clearly reflects the Marcos regime’s desperation and demonstrates the widespread failure of the anti-poor and pro-foreign Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP, formerly PUVMP).

According to Piston (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide), it still aims to compel drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys to join the consolidation and PTMP. The LTFRB has moved the deadline to December 31 and is allowing operations for those with “provisional authority or PA.” The group said, “The truth is, LTFRB cannot admit their program is a failure, thus they keep making stopgap extensions.”

Over the past two years, the LTFRB has repeatedly extended deadlines to mitigate the widespread transportation crisis caused by their rotten PTMP. Piston noted that many operators who were forced to apply for consolidation to meet last year’s deadline still have their applications unprocessed by the LTFRB.

“The government wants small operators to directly surrender their franchises to large corporations and cooperatives so they can monopolize routes long established and used by ordinary Filipinos,” the group stated.

This sentiment is echoed by Manibela (Samahang Manibela Mananakay and Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon). They argue that nothing is new about this situation, as many ordinary citizens continue to be misled by the program. “Extensions of [provisional authority to operate] will now be yearly, whereas our franchises used to have a validity of five years!”

Amid the further exposure of LTFRB’s corruption and lies under the Marcos government, Piston and Manibela have called for a continuation of their fight for rights to franchise and livelihood. “We have a collective movement that cannot be crumbled by anyone into darkness and evil!” Piston said.