Public transportation in Central Visayas: 100% consolidated

CEBU, Philippines — The head of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 yesterday claimed that 91 percent of the franchises of public utility jeepneys, both traditional and modernized, in Central Visayas are now already consolidated.

In fact, LTRFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto, Jr. said it would for sure be “100 percent” once they have updated their records.

“As of now, negligible na ang mga PUJs nga wa ma-consolidate. Pero og ma-upgrade na ni namo ang among database, makita ‘nya na nato nga 100 percent consolidated na,” he said.

“Kay kaning uban nga naa pa sa among lista (nga unconsolidated pa) kay na-drop na ni or gibaligya na sa operators ang ilang units. Pero mao lagi, limpyohan pa ni namo ang among database,” said he added.

He said that Central Visayas already has 1,400 modernized jeepneys and 800 traditional jeepneys as well 784 UV Express that were consolidated.

“Sa atong mga jeepneys mao ni, mga 91 percent ang consolidated. Unya ang UV Express kay dugay na ni sila nga 100 percent consolidated na. Pero sa atong mga jeepneys dili tanan ani nila operational,” Montealto said.

Meanwhile, Montealto said that starting May 16, PUJs whose franchises remain unconsolidated would be considered as “colorum” or unauthorized and would be apprehended by by the authorized law enforcement agencies.

To recall, LTFRB-7 last month opened its doors during Saturdays to accept applications for consolidation from transport entities rushing to comply with the National Government directive that the extended deadline for consolidation is only up to April 30, 2024.

To recall, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. approved the extension for franchise consolidation under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) from Dec. 31, 2023 to April 30, 2024, providing an opportunity to those who want to consolidate.

The said deadline was extended six times already, which was why the President said that there would no longer be another extension after the April 30 deadline elapsed.

The government started themodernization program in 2017 and has been implementing the PUVMP to address transport-related problems and the future transportation demand of the country.

The program aims “to fundamentally transform the public transport system in the country making both commuting and public transportation operations more dignified, humane, and on par with global standards”.

It also “seeks to pprovide the Filipino commuter a comfortable ride by providing a safer, more efficient, reliable, convenient, affordable, climate-friendly, and environmentally sustainable transportation system in the country”.

The National Government intended the PUVMP provide a better, efficient, and safe transportation service to the Filipinos, dismissing claims that it would only negatively impact the lives of jeepney drivers and operators in the country.

Members of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) in Cebu has called for the lifting of the April 30 deadline and the junking of the  PUVMP that it said would only result in the traditional jeepneys’ phaseout.

PISTON-Cebu chairperson Greg Perez earlier said that the PUVMP “continued to victimize the small operators, drivers and commuters by removing the individual operator’s control over their franchise and jeepney in favour of cooperatives and corporations”.

He said this is because it forces operators to buy expensive, imported minibuses, placin them in serious debt.

Perez alleged that the modernication program is not meant to help the small operators and drivers but to cause them loss of livelihood, whether their franchises are consolidated or not. RHM (CEBU NEWS)