The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has reopened consolidation under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), allowing public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers to join existing cooperatives or form their own.

Under Department Order (DO) No. 2025-009 signed by DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday, PUV operators and drivers covered by the DO will be allowed to join existing consolidated transport service entities (TSE) in routes with a 60 percent or above consolidation rate.

“Covered PUJ and UVE (utility vehicle express) operators may be allowed to consolidate in routes with less than 60 percent consolidation, provided that they were previously granted authority to operate on the said routes,” it read.

On the other hand, unconsolidated operators may be allowed to operate in existing and rationalized routes without a consolidated TSE until the implementation of a transfer plan.

In a statement, Dizon said the DO seeks to ease the financial burden on individual operators and struggling cooperatives in paying loans to banks due to the high cost of modernized units and other fees for registration and consolidation.

“We need to help them modernize and join the program. They are our priority, we need to give them reprieve so they don’t lose money,” he said.

He emphasized that the DO made an adjustment to the PTMP to allow operators and drivers to join or form new cooperatives in areas with existing routes.

“That’s the option for those who weren’t able to join in April 2024 -- they can either join an existing consolidated cooperative or they can form their own for routes with less than 60 percent consolidation,” he said.

To ensure the safety of commuters and other motorists, he said old jeepney units will be subjected to road worthiness checks.