00:00 Update on consolidation and root rationalization.
00:03 We will discuss this with the Department of Transportation Office of Transportation Cooperatives
00:10 Chairperson, Jesus Ferdinand Ortega.
00:13 Good afternoon, Sir Andy.
00:15 Good afternoon, Nina and ADG Malaya.
00:20 Good afternoon to you.
00:22 Sir, I will start with your reaction.
00:25 There is no statement from the transport groups that their protest will be even more intense
00:31 as January 31 approaches.
00:35 You know, first of all, it is the right of our friends and colleagues to express themselves.
00:44 But of course, during this time, what I can say is that we need to help each other.
00:51 First of all, they have already reached the Supreme Court.
00:57 I guess we just have to respect the process.
01:00 They are waiting for their final there.
01:03 But on the part of the government, the program is ongoing.
01:07 In fact, the cooperatives have been waiting for a long time, raising a program.
01:12 They are excited to continue the program because at the end of the day, Nina,
01:17 our millions of people are waiting for this and they deserve this program to push through.
01:24 Yes, Chairman. You mentioned that the program is ongoing.
01:30 So how is your support to the troopers so that they can join our existing cooperatives?
01:39 And what is the goal of our fellow troopers who are not yet joining our program?
01:47 Good afternoon, ADG Jonathan Malaya.
01:51 First of all, as OTC Chairman, when we reached the deadline for consolidation,
01:58 I immediately contacted our cooperatives nationwide.
02:03 Because the cooperatives have already consolidated, I said,
02:08 "Maybe we can help the drivers."
02:10 Because on December 31, the decision was made whether to consolidate or not.
02:15 Those are the operators. They are the ones who hold the franchise so it was a decision on their part.
02:21 But the thousands of drivers, the operators, are the ones I am focusing on.
02:27 And good news, there are many cooperatives nationwide,
02:31 they are willing to make these drivers be members so that they can become members of the cooperative
02:38 and also become drivers of the cooperative.
02:42 But even though we reached the deadline on December 31,
02:46 Secretary Bautista, through DOTR and LTFRB,
02:51 the people who are approaching us are still looking for solutions.
02:56 Because I have to admit, many were reminded when the deadline came that they really want to join.
03:04 So there are talks ongoing.
03:06 And you know, anything could really happen as long as the drivers and operators are helped.
03:14 So let's see our developments but program-wise, our program is really ongoing.
03:21 But once the consolidation of other transport groups in the PUV modernization program continues,
03:30 will there be a solution to the routes that will be left so that our commuters will not be affected?
03:37 And that is the number one priority of the government, DOTR, LTFRB, and also MMDA, PNP,
03:46 and our LGUs, especially in NCR.
03:50 Their coordination is ongoing because the most important thing is we could give the vehicle for the commuting public come February 1.
04:02 So we have the programs or rather the LTFRB wherein the choices are like this.
04:08 First of all, we have a lot of big routes here in Metro Manila that have a lot of franchise vehicles or rather vehicles in these routes
04:19 that they can take over or rather ride the franchises that did not consolidate who are basically in the small routes.
04:29 So the small routes, there are not many that consolidate, but they will pass through a long route with more vehicles.
04:38 Those are the solutions.
04:40 And then we also have other modes of transportation which our commuters can take.
04:45 But also, the other routes that are consolidated, assuming it is consolidated here and there are a lot of vehicles,
04:54 we will give a special permit for these consolidated cooperatives or rather routes to be able to travel to the routes that are in need.
05:07 So those are the solutions that we laid out to help us. What's important here is we will have a smooth transition.
05:17 That's the most important thing because at the end of the day, as I said, this is for the commuting public.
05:22 So we have to really monitor this and make sure that we have a smooth transition from the old system,
05:30 the driver-operator, into a modern system which will definitely benefit our riding public.
05:37 Sir, have you identified specific routes? For example, sir, earlier I was just talking to one of our fellow countrymen
05:49 and he said that from Quiapo to Project 6, there used to be a jeepney.
05:54 It's been almost a year since there was no jeepney. And his son used to pay 12 pesos to go to school,
06:02 to go to public school when he used to ride a jeepney. But now, there is no jeepney and he is forced to ride a tricycle.
06:09 And he is being paid from 12 pesos to 40 pesos.
06:13 So what are the issues and routes that the jeepney or the POVs that will apply for those routes?
06:26 Definitely, those routes are spelled out, especially in our NCR, LTFRB under Regional Director Atty. Tamayo.
06:39 So from there, we will really see what we need to support on February 1.
06:45 But I will focus on what you are saying, Nina.
06:48 So we can see here, based on the story, that there are routes where there is no jeepney.
06:55 Because if you notice, LTFRB has information.
07:00 After the consolidation, what LTFRB checked was 40,000+ numbers of consolidated in NCR.
07:09 They looked at the records of LTO.
07:14 How many actually travel to 40,000 franchises in NCR?
07:22 And when they checked with LTO, the last registration, meaning these are the legal franchises that have franchises,
07:30 it reached only 22,000+.
07:33 So it means, there's a number, almost 19,000 that did not register.
07:40 So now, if you look at the consolidated, which is 21,000,
07:45 and then the actual registered, which was 22,000, it was almost less than 1,000 that did not consolidate.
07:53 But going back to your story, so possibly, there are franchises that do not travel on certain routes,
08:02 like what you said, that are now forced to ride on expensive tricycles.
08:06 So this is what's good about this program.
08:08 Because of this consolidation, and for the next step, what we call LPTRP, the route rationalization,
08:16 LGU and LTFRB will be able to see where the actual number of people that travel is.
08:23 Where is the lack? Where is the surplus?
08:27 And these will be the solutions to be given, like what you said earlier,
08:32 the lack will be given, the surplus will be returned, and the surplus will be reduced.
08:38 That's part of the program, to be specific and accurate on the number of vehicles on each route.
08:46 Okay, sir, we have a question from our media partner, JM Pineda of IBC 13.
08:54 There are some modern jeepneys that are almost full when they are riding.
08:59 There are some passengers who are complaining about this.
09:02 How can we ensure that this is regulated properly?
09:06 And is it possible to remove the franchise of these modern units?
09:11 How many units does a modern unit have?
09:15 Yes, you're right. Those are enforcement concerns, and it's also important that we report those.
09:22 Modern vehicles have more or less 22 passengers.
09:27 But they allow a maximum of 8.
09:30 So the maximum is 30.
09:33 So the corporative or corporations should not allow their drivers to have more than 8
09:41 that are standing because that's the limit.
09:44 So now, we can catch them, we can report them, we can fine them.
09:48 But on the part of the corporative, this is my office, I will have to give them guidance,
09:55 memo, that we need to follow the maximum limit for convenience and of course for safety.
10:04 So our passengers or our commuters, the riding public or even ordinary citizens,
10:10 if you find or see such overloading, please give it to LTFRB especially and to OTC
10:17 so that we can send showcosts to the corporatives or corporations.
10:23 Because even though it's modern, we also need to follow the laws.
10:28 Okay.
10:30 Another question from JM Pineda of IBC 13.
10:36 You mentioned before that the corporatives can have a 24-hour rotation during their trip.
10:42 How do you monitor this since there are some corporatives that don't do that
10:46 because they arrive early, especially those that are in the adjacent area of Metro Manila?
10:53 That's right.
10:54 The maximum is 3 shifts because it's 8, 8, 8.
10:58 So that's 3.
10:59 But in studies now, their maximum is only 2.
11:03 This is because of the needs or requirements of a route.
11:08 For example, in one route, you don't need to do 24 hours for reasons that
11:13 there are people taking over in another route or maybe it's not necessary.
11:19 So that's allowed at the moment.
11:22 But definitely, part of the fleet management, because this year, this happened a few years ago,
11:28 LTFRB, DOT, and OTC are returning it.
11:33 We will now be having seminars with our fleet management corporatives
11:37 so that they can maximize their vehicles not only for profit purpose
11:44 but also to serve the riding public.
11:47 For example, if your modern vehicle is 30,
11:50 of course, when the evening shift comes,
11:56 until the morning, you don't need the 30 because of reasons of less passengers.
12:01 But what the fleet management will teach here is that there should be enough number,
12:06 a certain number that the commuters can give to the vehicle on those times
12:13 that there are less passengers but it's necessary.
12:16 So this is what the government will teach through DOTR,
12:21 fleet management to maximize not only the vehicles
12:25 but to make sure that our passengers can ride any time of the day.
12:31 Okay, Chairman Andy, I have a question here.
12:36 Some of us are concerned because is it true that we won't be able to see our traditional jeepney
12:43 because the modern jeepney looks like a minibus and not a jeep.
12:48 So will we still be able to see our jeepneys that we are already used to?
12:55 We cannot disappoint the millions of Filipinos.
12:59 We still need to see the jeepney.
13:03 The previous administrations, I admit, looked like minibuses.
13:10 But there is no such thing that the design of the jeepney cannot be.
13:16 In fact, our rules, we changed it.
13:19 We now put the word, we would like to encourage that there should be a design,
13:25 a logo, a font, anything that could resemble and will resemble our jeepneys
13:31 that is really a tourist attraction.
13:33 In fact, for now, there are at least two local companies
13:38 that are applying to be accepted, to be included in the standard,
13:42 to be given a certificate so that our cooperatives and corporations
13:48 will have a choice option to buy this traditional design.
13:52 Definitely, it is not prohibited.
13:55 Definitely, we encourage and I do feel confident that the traditional jeepney designs are being pursued.
14:03 But, it is included in the standards for safety, reliability, and convenience.
14:08 It will not be lost.
14:10 It will be increased but in a modern way so that it is more convenient for the passengers.
14:16 Earlier, Chairman, you mentioned the update on route rationalization.
14:24 Because this is important.
14:26 I know this is more of a concern of LTFRB than your office.
14:30 But, would you know what the timetable is for the rationalization of the routes?
14:35 Yes, that is right.
14:37 That is a very important part of the program.
14:40 The consolidation is done.
14:42 The route rationalization is continuous.
14:45 It started years ago but this will be concentrated especially for the next three years.
14:50 I have seen the program.
14:52 The maximum is three years but it can be done in a year, a year and a half.
14:56 That is better.
14:58 The LGUs will finish with the LTFRB so that they can know how many vehicles are in each route.
15:05 How many will be reduced or added?
15:08 Or what new routes will we do?
15:11 Because there are new residents or commercial areas.
15:15 This will happen first.
15:19 This year, the estimate I see is that at least 700 LGUs should have this because it is included in the budget.
15:27 So, after the route rationalization plan or rather at the same time,
15:31 all that will be given by the LPTRP will include the requirement to modernize.
15:37 Because the next phase of the LPTRP, you know the number of routes, is acquiring modern vehicles.
15:45 But the modern vehicles will not happen in a year or two.
15:48 That is also a mid-27 month program because we don't have that much supply.
15:54 But definitely, it will come.
15:57 So, we will prioritize the LPTRP like you mentioned, sir.
16:00 And then after that, modernization.
16:02 So, in a spread of six years, more or less, we will see the number of modern vehicles for our passengers and commuters
16:12 but based on the proper numbers in the LPTRP with the help of our friends in the LGUs
16:20 and also in the former office of ADG, in DILG.
16:25 All right. Thank you very much for your time.
16:29 DOT, our Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairperson, Jesus Ferdinand Ortega.
16:34 Chairman Andy, thank you very much.
16:36 Thank you both.
16:39 (dramatic music)
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