THE Department of Transportation will no longer push for another extension of the deadline for public utility vehicles to consolidate. 

At a press briefing on Thursday, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the three-month window, given by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was “more than enough time for them to consolidate.”

The new deadline is on April 30. 

“Hindi na kami magre-recommend ng any extension. This is the eighth time that we are extending the deadline,” Bautista said.

Bautista anticipates an increase in the consolidation rate from 76% to 85% following the expiration of the extended deadline.

“At 85%, I’m very sure this will be a very successful project,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office announced that Marcos extended the deadline to allow ”those who expressed an intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off.”

If not for the extension, unconsolidated PUVs would be the target of the government’s anti-colorum efforts beginning February 1. 

Transport group PISTON said the extension was the result of their ”collective action” even as they continued to push for the abolition of the PUV modernization program, which opponents label as “unjust” and “anti-poor.”