3 companies seek transport franchise

CEBU, Philippines - Three companies catering to private schools in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue heeded the call of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 to get a franchise for their school transportations.

"Our campaign is getting positive feedback. So far, three private companies have applied for a franchise," LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon told The FREEMAN.

These three companies serve as car pool for Don Bosco Technology Center-Cebu, Asian College of Technology and St. Louise School in Mandaue City.

LTFRB-7 and the Land Transportation Office-7 started inspecting school transportations last week in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay.

This after LTFRB-7 noticed that only 179 school transportations in these areas have franchise considering that there are so many schools here.

Of the 179 school transportations with franchise, 132 of these are in Cebu City, 19 in Lapu-Lapu City, 18 in Talisay City and ten in Mandaue City.

Records of the Department of Education-7 show that there are 611 schools both private and public in the elementary and secondary levels in these cities.

DepEd-7 however could not give the number of schools that have their own transportation.

Cuizon said schools need to have their school transportation registered with LTFRB to ensure public safety and avoid unnecessary penalties.

A franchise fee is less than P10,000 and valid for five years per unit. – (FREEMAN)