MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the agency is continuing with its Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) a top official on Friday said.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade told senators in yesterday’s budget deliberations that the DOTr will continue with its plan to phase-out all 170, 000 units of PUVs in the country and roll on with its modernization program.

Tugade was at the Senate Friday during deliberations of DOTr’s proposed P147 billion budget for next year.

In yesterday’s Senate hearing, Tugade said that what the DOTr plans is not an automatic phase-out of old public utility jeepney (PUJ) units.

Rather, he said, the DOTr will call on all operators who have not yet modernized and temporarily allow them to ply their routes if they will pass the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) evaluation.

And if they will pass the MVIS, they will then be provided by a Provisional Authority’s (PA) by the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for just one year and will still need to undergo roadworthiness checks through MVIS annually from thereon.

The operators will also be required to sign a memorandum for consolidation by or before June 30, 2020 and express their desire to modernize.

If existing operators fail to file for consolidation on the said date, the DOTr will cancel their route and give it to interested applicants who are willing to modernize. (Cate Pallarco/IAMIGO/CNS)