ILOILO City – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 is still waiting for the decision of its central office regarding the franchise of traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) after Dec. 31 this year.
“Kami sa LTFRB diri sa region naga-wait pa kami sang guidelines for after Dec. 31,” Engr. Joshua Gaquit, Transportation Development Officer II of LTFRB-6, told Panay News.
He, however, said that only a few traditional PUJs in Western Visayas still need to be consolidated.
Of the around 2,500 PUJs in Iloilo City, more or less 300 individual PUJs are yet to enter a cooperative or corporation.
“Ang consolidated is 2,000 plus,” Gaquit added.
For other areas, Gaquit could not yet give the estimated data as consolidation is ongoing.
He expects that the region will experience only minimal effects once individual PUJs are no longer allowed to operate, except in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental where there are still many who have not been able to consolidate.
“Na-encourage gid nga magsulod para mangin members sa cooperatives. Kay maski madula ang traditional jeepneys, may ara sila palaabuton sa coop, may ara devidindo or share sa cooperative,” he said.
Traditional PUJ operators and drivers in Western Visayas are beginning to grow uneasy as their franchises are only valid until Dec. 31.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTFRB have yet to issue a decision on whether or not the PUJ’s provisional authority to operate will be extended beyond Dec. 31, 2023 – the deadline set for the mandatory consolidation of jeepney franchises.
Memorandum Circular No. 2023-013, issued by LTFRB, was supposed to be implemented until June this year in line with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). However, then DOTr secretary Jaime Bautista moved it after receiving backlash from transport groups.
Meanwhile, with the provisional authority, all traditional jeepneys could still operate until Dec. 31, even if Iloilo City starts implementing its enhanced Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) before yearend.
“Tanan ya nga individual and unconsolidated traditional jeepneys nga ginpang-renew, madalagan pa ina sia. So, waay kita problema sa number of units. Ang ginalantaw naton after Dec. 31 kon ano ang guidelines nga ipagwa sang central office, ma-adjust naman kita,” Gaquit explained.
Around 1,782 modernized jeepney units were authorized by the LTFRB to operate once the enhanced LPTRP of the city is implemented; 486 units are already plying different routes in the city.
The remaining required units for the enhanced LPTRP will be covered by traditional jeepneys with provisional authority until Dec. 31.
Earlier, Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI) assured readiness to cater to passengers under the enhanced LPTRP.
“Considering nga by December may LPTRP na kita sa syudad, gina-follow-up namon sa bangko (Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines) subong because ang requirement of this LPTRP nga ma-comply gid namon ang number of units,” said WVATCCI president Rizal Alido.
He also appealed to banks to expedite the release of loans to cooperatives and corporations for additional modernized jeepney units.
“We hope ma-meet naton ang requirements nga 1,782 para ma-fully implement nga ma-modernize na ang units nga nagadalagan sa syudad,” he added.
The members of WVATCCI are as follows:
* Molo Transport Service Cooperative
* Santa Barbara – New Lucena Transport Service Cooperative
* Aerostar Transport Cooperative
* Iloilo Superman Owners and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* Iloilo City Alliance Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* JJL Transport Corporation
* Pavia Iloilo Jeepney Owners and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* Joroshley Transport Services Incorporated
* Western Visayas Transport Cooperative
* Leon Transport Service Cooperative
* Calumpang Iloilo Service Transport Cooperative./PN
