‘OK BUT UNSATISFIED’; Transport groups hail extension of traditional jeepney franchises

Drivers Carlos Deasis and Jayson Tandog welcome the extension of the validity of the franchises of traditional jeepneys from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2023 but stress they’ll be happier if the phaseout of traditional jeepneys won’t push through. Right photo shows passengers boarding a traditional jeepney at the Mohon terminal in Arevalo, Iloilo City. AJ PALCULLO/PN
Drivers Carlos Deasis and Jayson Tandog welcome the extension of the validity of the franchises of traditional jeepneys from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2023 but stress they’ll be happier if the phaseout of traditional jeepneys won’t push through. Right photo shows passengers boarding a traditional jeepney at the Mohon terminal in Arevalo, Iloilo City. AJ PALCULLO/PN

ILOILO – Transport groups welcomed the decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to extend the validity of the franchises of traditional jeepneys from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2023.

LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III on Wednesday said they were coming out with a new memorandum circular extending the deadline in response to the advice of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Transportation secretary Jaime Bautista to give individual jeepney operators more time to form cooperatives or corporations and participate in the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

Transport groups recently warned of a week-long strike that could paralyze the transport system in the National Capital Region from March 6 to 12.

Villa-Mohon Jeepney Drivers Association president Carlos Deasis said the extension is favorable.

“Daku gid nga bulig sa drivers and operators ang pag-extend sang gobyerno, daw kanami man pamatian nga amo sina ang natabu,” Deasis said.

However, the 62-year-old driver said it would be much better if the renewal of the Certificate of Registration (CR) of traditional jeepneys ending with plate numbers 1 and 2 is fast-tracked by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Explained Deasis, the extension allows some drivers to meet the at least six-month franchise validity or provisional authority (PA) requirement.

Mas nami pa gid kon madali magpa-rehistro sang units para ang expired nga units maka-umpisa dayon biyahe,” he said.

He added it would mean more if the President himself cancelled the modernization program: “Kabay pa indi na lang ‘ni madayon ang modernization, traditional na lang kita tanan.

The 41-year-old Jayson Tandog was also happy with the extension.

“Makabulig gid ‘ya sang daku pero mas makabulig gid ‘tani kon indi pagdayunon ang phaseout,” said the driver taking the Villa-Mohon route.

He suggested that instead of a total phaseout, traditional jeepneys undergo rehabilitation.

Still, he also worries for his fellow drivers who might not be able to register within three months, rendering the extension useless for those with CRs that expired in January and February.

Ang problema namon subong abi ang conflict sang duha ka agencies (LTO and LTFRB), kami nga nagabiyahe ang naga-suffer. Indi magrehistro ang LTO kay tungod indi six months ang PA namon, three months lang. Although gin-extend sang national ang phaseout,okay sa indi expired. Pero sa expired naman, waay man gihapon,” Tandog said.

For his part, Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) president Raymundo Parcon is thankful for this development.

He said more than 200 units of traditional jeepneys under WVTC that ply the City Proper route are not yet consolidated. He said the extension would allow them to comply.

“Naluoy man ‘ta sa ila. Ti, sa subong pabor gid na sa aton kay kon mag-implement ang LTFRB sang modernization sa ulihi bastante kita sang unit kay ara na ang consolidated naton,” said Parcon.

This week, 95 modernized jeepneys of the WVTC will arrive. These would ply different routes in the city.

A total of 553 modernized jeepneys were awarded by the LTFRB to the cooperative.

Parcon said since the announcement of the extension, several members have expressed their desire for a franchise consolidation as soon as possible.

The WVTC president added this also means passengers would not face the inconvenience of having fewer jeepney units anytime soon.

Parcon again assured the public that WVTC would not join the transport strike planned by various transport groups in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Western Visayas Federation of Transport Cooperative and Corporation (WVFTCC) chairperson Rizal Alido said, “Waay kami objection sina (extension), okay lang sa amon kay nagpangabay ang LTFRB office nga hatagan sang tsansa for the last time ang wala pa maka-consolidate.”

Even if the LTFRB immediately implements the modernization program, Alido said the WVFTCC is ready.

The cooperatives under WVFTCC are the Iloilo City Alliance of Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative, Metro Iloilo Transport Service Cooperative, Calumpang Iloilo Transport Service Cooperative, and Molo Transport Service Cooperative, among others./PN

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