LTFRB-7: No order yet to phase out old jeepneys

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 said that the reported memorandum of the Department of Transportation and Communication to phase out 15-year-old jeepneys is not yet out.

“So far, wa pa ko nakadawat og memorandum from DOTC on that matter. Ang akong nahibaw-an nga naa nay draft but wa pa napirmahan sa DOTC secretary,” LTFRB-7 regional director Rey Elnar said.

Elnar said the phase out will probably be implemented gradually.

“Di sad tingali na diha-diha dayon i-phase out ang mga jeepneys kay mahurot gyud og kawagtang atong mga jeepneys kung i-implement na abruptly,” Elnar said.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, general manager of CITRASCO who has over 200 jeepneys, said that he has been backing the proposal to put an age limit for jeepneys, but said DOTC should put a mechanism on how to go about it.

“Di man sad na mahimo nga i-phase out ang jeepneys diha-diha-diha dayon kay unsa may sakyan sa katawhan?” Yu said, adding that jeepneys remain to be the number one mode of mass transportation.

Yu explained that the Philippines has no assembly line that can manufacture brand new jeepneys, 60,000 units for example, in one year in five years.

Yu based his estimate of 300,000 jeepney units all over the country, which will be phased out since no jeepneys are brand new and operating beyond the age-limit.

Earlier, transport group National Confederation of Transportworkers Union opposed the plan of DOTC to phase out 15-year-old jeepneys starting January of 2016.

Romeo Armamento, national vice president of NCTU-Visayas, said that they will continue to oppose this plan, unless and until the government will put up a transition mechanism.

“Dapat magbutang sila og mekanismo unsa ilahang matabang sa mga drivers ug operators nga mawagtangan og panginabuhi-an tungod sa maong policy,” Armamento said.

The Philippines is committed to reduce carbon monoxide emission and phasing out old jeepneys is said to be one of the measures to meet the goal.  (FREEMAN)