More old public utility jeepneys face phaseout

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu’s more than 1,000 traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJs) that are currently operational are in danger of phaseout as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued a new a memorandum circular disallowing them from operating after the June 30, 2023 deadline, unless they join a cooperative or a corporation.

LTFRB-7 director Eduardo Montealto Jr. told The Freeman yesterday said that after the deadline, TPUJ operators who failed to join a cooperative or corporation will have their franchise automatically revoked.

“Kay wala na man silay franchise, it follows they will no longer be allowed to operate. Unya ang ilang mga franchise will be returned to the government and this will be given to those operators nga adunay legal entities sama sa mga cooperative or corporation,” said Montealto.

Montealto added that Cebu needs around 5,000 units of modern PUJs but so far it only has around 2,000 units (MPUJs) and around 2,000 units (TPUJs) operating.

The regional chief explained that of the 2,000 units of TPUJs, their respective operators with around 1,000 units are now in the stage of consolidation.

“So, naay mga more or less 1,000 units nga ang mga operators wala pa nag-consolidate. Kani sila og dili gyud ni sila mag consolidate until the June 30 deadline, automatic gyud na ma-revoke ilang franchise,” he said.

Montealto, however, explained that TPUJ operators who will be consolidated before the June 30 deadline will have their provisional authority to operate until December 31, 2023.

“Pero og after December 31, wala pa maabot ang ilang MPUJs or wala pa ma-release ang ilang loan to purchase MPUJs, that will be considered. Dili ra na i-revoke ilang franchise,” he said.

Montealto clarified that those operators of traditional jeepneys who do not want to be part of the modernization program can have their units used as private vehicles.

The deadline for consolidation of traditional PUJs, either as a cooperatives or fleet-managed, has already been extended several times.

Montealto, however, said that majority of the traditional jeepney operators in Cebu have already consolidated in compliance of the PUV Modernization Program.

The consolidation, he added, would mean fewer traditional jeepneys and more modernized jeepneys.

Aside from the TPUJs, LTFRB’s memorandum circular also includes UV Express, which are also mandated to be consolidated before June 30, 2023.

Montealto said that majority of the 774 UV Express in Cebu are already consolidated while some are already in the process of consolidating.

“Sa atong mga UV Express wala tay problema ani kay kasagaran ani nila kay majority consolidated na unya ang uban on process na,” Montealto further said.  – JMD (FREEMAN)