The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board reminded traditional jeepney operators that they would no longer be allowed to operate if they failed to apply for consolidation after the April 30 extended deadline under its modernization program.
“After April 30, those who consolidated but have traditional jeepneys, will continue to run. The unconsolidated by April 30, that’s the one we won’t allow anymore,” lawyer Mercy Leynes of the LTFRB told the House committee on transportation during its motu proprio inquiry into the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
President Marcos had extended the consolidation deadline for PUVs to April 30 from the original Jan. 31 date upon the recommendation of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista.Leynes said the LTFRB policy “as of today” is that PUVs failing to consolidate under cooperatives by April 30 will not be allowed to ply their routes anymore.
Rep. Romeo Acop of Antipolo City questioned the LTFRB’s rationale behind the new policy.
“By your issuances of administrative orders, people are forced to consolidate because if they don’t consolidate after April 30, they won’t be able to earn a living,” said Acop. Bautista, for his part, stressed the primary objective of consolidation was to “provide a very good service to our passengers.”“We are looking at what will benefit the commuter, and at the same time, we are not neglecting the condition of the drivers and operators… We see that with consolidation, there will be improvements in the service,” the Transportation chief noted.
“It’s about time to modernize our transport industry, we have been left behind by our neighbors in Asia, in ASEAN,” he added.