BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Talks between the city government and representatives from operators of traditional and modernized public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in this city have begun.
The city seeks a peaceful transition to fully modernized PUJs, thus Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez agreed for the city officials to meet with the local transport sector to resolve their issues, particularly on the franchise permits of traditional PUJ operators.
Data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) showed that 726 PUJs can legally operate in Bacolod. Of these, 173 are modernized PUJs and 553 are traditional PUJs whose franchises have yet to expire.
The LTFRB has also granted franchises to 1,099 modern PUJs for 24 routes approved under the Local Public Transport Route Plan.
Estimates showed that at some point, up to 3,000 PUJs had been operating in the city.
The city government said modern jeepney operators are encouraging traditional jeepney drivers to shift to modern PUJs as they still need drivers.
Traditional PUJ operators, on the other hand, have been appealing to the national government to allow them to purchase only the Euro 4 engine, the one used for modern PUJs, so they could assemble their own modern PUJs.
Earlier, the traditional PUJ operators sought a two-year extension to their provisional authority to operate legally.
In their letter/manifesto, they also sought the temporary suspension of apprehensions by the LTFRB during the two-year period while they are renewing their application and for the LTFRB to expedite the approval of franchises.
Traditional PUJ operators temporarily halted their operations in the city on Monday, Nov. 7, after the LTO started apprehending PUJs that were operating without franchises or with incomplete documents.
The city government later agreed to a 15-day moratorium, and the LTO temporarily stopped apprehending PUJs and gave way to a dialogue between the traditional PUJ operators, the city government, the LTO, and the LTFRB./PN
