Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 23) — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is confident there will be no transportation crisis after June 30, the deadline for public utility vehicles (PUVs) to consolidate in line with the government’s jeepney modernization program.
The agency, however, said it is possible not all operators will comply with its order, which could result in a shortage of public utility vehicles plying the roads.
“When the board issued this MC (memorandum circular), anticipated din po ‘yon dahil kung matatandaan natin ilang beses na rin po tayo nag-extend,” LTFRB Technical Division head Joel Bolano told reporters on Thursday.
“May mga policy guidelines na ilalabas ang board before the June 30 (deadline).”
[Translation: When the board issued this MC, that scenario was also anticipated because we’ve already extended the deadline several times. The board will issue policy guidelines before the June 30 deadline.]
The memorandum circular directed drivers and operators to consolidate, or join cooperatives or corporations.
The LTFRB said their provisional authority (PA) will expire on June 30. But once part of a consolidated entity, their PA will be extended until the end of the year.
Citing agency data, Bolano said around 61% of 158,000 jeepneys targeted for modernization have already consolidated, along with 72% of 19,000 UV Express units.
There are more than 5,300 modernized jeepneys nationwide so far, he added.
“Definitely, ang target ng board dapat walang gap after June 30, kaya nga we will be expecting a number to comply,” the LTFRB official said. “Kasama ‘yun sa ie-evaluate ng board, ‘yung compliance from March, this coming month, until June para doon sa contingency or guidelines ng board that will be discussed in the coming days.”
[Translation: Definitely, the board is targeting there will be no shortage after June 30, that’s why we will be expecting a number to comply. It is part of what the board will evaluate, the compliance from March, this coming month, until June for the contingency or guidelines of the board that will be discussed in the coming days.]
Bolano reiterated that the memorandum circular only addresses the first component of the PUV modernization program, and does not mean the immediate phaseout of old vehicles.
“Based on the MC issued by the board, kapag sumali ka, even traditional ka pa rin [when you join cooperatives, even if you still have a traditional unit], you can still continue to operate,” he explained.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, transport group Piston said the deadline was \”too early,\” adding the latest move could wipe out the livelihood of drivers and operators, as well as the local manufacturers of jeepneys.
READ: Piston: Five years needed to comply with jeepney modernization
