LTFRB: No jeepney phaseout after franchise consolidation deadline

MANILA: The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) guaranteed that traditional jeepneys will not be phased out after the deadline for public utility jeepney (PUJ) franchise consolidation.

LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III emphasized that the consolidation must be accomplished by December 31, however, this does not imply that traditional jeepneys will not be permitted to cooperate by the end of the year.

“Kailangan pong tapusin ang consolidation sa December 31. Ang hinihingi lang po namin sa kanila ay yung tinatawag na substantial compliance. Ibig sabihin, ‘pag kayo po ay nag-file at compliant na po kayo, kahit hindi pa po tapos ay considered na po kayong consolidated, kaya po pwede po kayong tumakbo ng inyong ruta (The consolidation must be completed by December 31. All we ask of them is what is called substantial compliance. That means, when you file and are already compliant, you are considered consolidated, so you can operate on your route),” Guadiz stated.

He also refuted the claims that drivers will need to replace their units immediately after complying with the consolidation, saying, “Hindi po totoo na within three, six, or nine months ay kailangan ka na pong magbago ng unit, wala pong katotohanan ‘yon, pawang kasinungalingan po ‘yon (It is not true that within three, nine, or six months, you will have to change the unit, there is no truth in that, it is all a lie).”

Guadiz stressed that they will actually have at least 27 months to transition from traditional to modern jeepney units.

The LTFRB chairperson added that 60 percent of PUJs nationwide have been consolidated.

“Ang pakiusap lang po natin sa ating mga kababayang mga tsuper at mga operator na sana ho tayo’y magsama-sama. Ang akin pong battlecry always is wala pong iwanan. Hanggang tayo po ay tumutugon sa mga requirements ng gobyerno, aalalayan po namin kayo, sasamahan po namin kayo hanggang sa maitawid po natin itong modernisasyon (We are just asking our drivers and operators to come together. My battlecry is always to leave nothing behind. As long as we respond to the requirements of the government, we will support you, we will accompany you until we can overcome this modernization),” Guadiz stated.

Photos from Inter-Agency Council for Traffic and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board

Also read:

LTFRB OKs temporary price hike for PUJ

PUV modernization program needs to continue, says DOTr's Libiran

Here's where PUV drivers can use their fuel subsidy cards