LTFRB: No phaseout, only franchise consolidation

CEBU, Philippines — There will be no phase out of traditional jeepneys by Dec 31, 2023 but only a franchise consolidation.

This was the clarification made by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III.

“Kailangan pong tapusin ang consolidation sa December 31. Ang hinihingi lang po namin sa kanila ay yung tinatawag na substantial compliance. Ibig sabihin, ‘pag kayo po ay nag-file at compliant na po kayo kahit hindi pa po tapos ay considered na po kayong consolidated, kaya po pwede po kayong tumakbo ng inyong ruta,” Guadiz explained in a press conference at the LTFRB office in Quezon City last Thursday.

Guadiz also assured drivers and operators that the LTFRB will give them ample amount of time to complete the consolidation process.

“Ang paki-usap lang po natin sa ating mga kababayang mga tsuper at mga operator na sana tayo’y magsama-sama. Ang akin pong battlecry always is wala pong iwanan. Hanggang tayo po ay tumutugon sa mga requirements ng gobyerno, aalalayan po namin kayo, sasamahan po namin kayo hanggang sa maitawid po natin itong modernisasyon,” appeals Guadez.

At present, 60 percent of PUJs in the country have already been consolidated which makes them optimistic that the government will be able to push through with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program under this administration with the degree of acceptance on the said program already increasing.

“Base po sa record namin 60 percent na po ng PUJ sa buong Pilipinas, consolidated na, 70 percent po ng mga utility vehicles, consolidated na po. At ito po ay datos pa noong October pa po, so I’m sure dumarami nang dumarami pa po ‘to. So yung degree of acceptance po ay malaki na. So confident kami na maitatawid po natin itong modernization,” said Guadiz.

Guadiz also debunked claims that drivers will have to replace their units once they have complied with the consolidation as they are given 27 months or more to transition from traditional to modern jeepney units.

With this, traditional jeepneys are urged to maximize the 27 months given to them as they can still ply the road so long as their vehicles are determined by the LTO as “roadworthy.”

“Hindi po totoo na within 3, 6, or 9 months ay kailangan ka na pong magbago ng unit, wala pong katotohanan ‘yon, pawang kasinungalingan po ‘yon,”stressed Guadiz.

Guadiz said disinformation is widespread on the ground.

“Base po sa aming pag-aaral, napakalaki ng dis impormasyon na nangyayari sa ground. Ang kinakatakutan kasi ng mga tsuper natin ngayon yung phase-out na palagi naming inuulit ulit namin na sinasabi wala pong phase out. Sinimplify na po namin yung mga requirements para mag-organize ka into a cooperative or corporation and we even simplified it now, na hindi mo kailangan kumpletuhin lahat ng requirements until December 31,” Guadez added. — (FREEMAN)