The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) reported on Friday that 145,721 units or 76 percent of public utility vehicles and UV express have consolidated.

“As of this time, we already have 76 percent or 145,721 in terms of the units for UV express and PUJ. For UV Express, nasa 82 percent na po yung consolidation rate, and for the PUJ, that’s 73.96 percent,” LTFRB Board Member Riza Paches said in an interview.

Paches explained they have conducted the tracking of PUV and UV express units that followed the consolidation of their units from December 26 to December 31 last year “to note” those who beat the deadline.

The LTFRB official attributed the increase in consolidation rate to the campaign they conducted last month.

“Overall, we projected around 18,026 but after December 31, yung level po nung nag-consolidate at nag-apply for consolidation was actually 25, 629 units. This makes up 142 percent from what we projected,” Paches said.

“So, meaning to say that the campaign for consolidation during the last stretch of December was actually effective and the matter by which the agencies have been opening their offices, relaxing certain policies, and requirements, and even reaching out to all these transport service operators was to the agencies perspective,” she added.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said last month that the government cannot allow further delays in the consolidation of PUVs as he emphasized that “adhering to the current timeline” will ensure “everyone can reap the benefits of the full operationalization of our modernized public transport system.”

Office of Transport Cooperatives (OTC) Chairman Jesus Ortega earlier said that majority of PUVs have supported the decision of President. PND