BACOLOD City – Around 800 traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in this city are expected to participate in a one-day transport protest on Thursday, June 5, in response to ongoing issues surrounding the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
Rudy Catedral, president of the Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers Inc. (BACOD), said affiliated transport federations from across Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, will join the peaceful protest.
The protest will be primarily led by unconsolidated PUJ operators and drivers who currently do not have provisional authority (PA) to operate. These drivers face possible regulation by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) despite the city still lacking sufficient public transport, especially during peak hours.
Two rally centers will be established for the protest. One at the Barangay Bata flyover, led by BACOD, and the other at the Barangay Singcang-Airport flyover, led by Kabakod Negros Transport Coalition Inc. (KNETCO) and the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC).
The groups are appealing to the national government to grant PA to unconsolidated PUJs, especially with the opening of classes this month, which is expected to increase commuter demand.
“It is common knowledge that Bacolod lacks vehicles during peak hours even though the unconsolidated PUJs are still operating,” Catedral said. “If the LTO is planning to regulate the operations of around 800 unconsolidated units. What will happen to the riding public if that happens?”
He emphasized that this city was considered a model city for the national government’s modernization program, and appealed for the government to allow the renewal of franchises and grant provisional authority to traditional PUJs.
Catedral also issued an apology to the public for the inconvenience the transport strike may cause on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has yet to issue an official statement on the scheduled protest.
However, he earlier discussed key concerns related to local transport modernization with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon during the latter’s visit to the City Mayor’s Office last April.
In that meeting, Benitez presented Bacolod’s Comprehensive Public Transport Modernization Plan, which includes the following proposals:
* A review of the consolidation program.
* Granting authority to local government units (LGUs) to apprehend colorum or unauthorized vehicles.
* Approval and implementation of green routes and electric vehicle (EV) migration.
* Provision of financing options for e-jeepney operators.
* Establishment of EV charging stations across the city.
Mayor Benitez also presented the current status of the city’s Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) implementation.
As of March 2025, a total of 1,266 traditional PUJ units in Bacolod have been consolidated, alongside 605 modern units. However, according to the city’s assessment, there is still a shortfall of around 1,200 units needed to adequately service 24 designated routes.
“We can clearly see that Bacolod can be the model for public utility vehicle modernization,” said Secretary Dizon. “To support this, the DOTr is committed to providing everything necessary to show that this modernization program can truly work — if the right ingredients are in place.”/PN
