Manila: Teofilo Guadiz III on Monday vowed to end the artificial shortage of public utility vehicles (PUV) on key routes after officially taking the helm of the Office for Transport Cooperatives (OTC). In a statement on Monday, Guadiz said his immediate priority is to 'restore the full operational capacity of transport cooperatives and ensure that commuters are no longer burdened by the lack of available rides.'

According to Philippines News Agency, Guadiz announced a high-level consultation with leaders of transport cooperatives scheduled for Wednesday. The consultation will focus on identifying bottlenecks in deployment, financing, and route management in areas where units are inactive despite having active franchises. The meeting aims to create a roadmap addressing financing barriers, access to credit for repairs or vehicle replacement, and enhancing coordination among cooperatives operating on overlapping routes.

Guadiz has previously served as chair of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Before his government tenure, he practiced corporate law and was a legal counsel for a major savings bank in the country. He acknowledged the financial challenges faced by cooperatives and underscored his banking experience to address these issues.

He emphasized that cooperatives are crucial to both rural and urban mobility and outlined his mission to merge financial and operational perspectives to deliver real, lasting solutions. Guadiz's long-term vision includes expanding cooperatives' access to credit facilities, professionalizing cooperative management, and enhancing the sector's financial resilience.

Guadiz concluded by stating that the public deserves a reliable transport system that functions daily and everywhere, emphasizing the need for cooperation and sound management to restore order and comfort to Filipino commuters.