Manila: Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday dubbed as a potential fresh start the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) invitation to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators to revisit the transportation modernization program. ‘We laud DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon for heeding the call to revisit the flawed modernization program after consultation with transport groups and stakeholders,’ she said in a statement.

According to Philippines News Agency, Poe noted that key questions remain unanswered, particularly regarding affordability, route coverage, and the responsiveness of the new guidelines to long-standing concerns raised by drivers and operators. ‘But the devil is in the details, as they say. Are the new guidelines responsive to the concerns earlier raised by the drivers and operators? Is there a new scheme to make the modern jeepney units more affordable? Are all routes covered?’ she said.

Dizon has signed Department Order 2025-009, which reopens the application for consolidation and provides guidelines for individual operators and drivers who have not yet consolidated. The order covers public utility jeepney and utility vehicle (UV) Express operators who failed to consolidate or have pending applications, with units confirmed with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and registered with the Land Transportation Office for 2023 or 2024.

Poe expressed hope that the revised guidelines would address the apprehensions of the transport sector and encourage broader participation in the consolidation process. The PTMP, launched in 2017, aims to replace aging jeepneys with vehicles that have at least Euro 4-compliant engines to reduce pollution and enhance road safety. Consolidating individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations is the initial stage of the program.

However, the high cost of modern jeepney units, some of which exceed PHP2 million, has been a significant barrier for many drivers and operators.