4 thousand modernized jeepneys in Cebu in 2021

CEBU, Philippines — At least 4,000 modernized jeepneys are expected to ply the streets of Cebu Province and other highly-urbanized cities next year.

“Eight thousand atong traditional jeepneys karon and this is equivalent to 4,000 modernized jeepneys. Pasabot ani, for every two traditional jeepneys, this is equivalent to one modernized jeepney,” said Eduardo Montealto, Jr., regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas.

(We have 8,000 traditional jeepneys at present and this is equivalent to 4,000 modernized jeepneys. This means, every two traditional jeepneys is equivalent to one modernized jeepney.)

Montealto said operators of traditional jeepneys have until December 30 this year to consolidate or join a transport cooperative.

“Until December 30 of this year ang deadline sa consolidation but after that, we will still give them another one year to operate pero among ihatag kay provisional authority na lang, dili na franchise. Kung naay qualified nga mo-apply sa ilang franchise, then we will give it,” Montealto said.

(Our deadline for consolidation is December 30 but we will still give them another year to operate, but we will only give them a provisional authority, no longer a franchise. We will give the franchise to whoever applies for one and qualifies.)

Montealto said about 60 to 70 percent of the operators of traditional jeepneys in Central Visayas and in Cebu have already consolidated and are now operating modernized jeepneys.

“Eventually, ang traditional jeeneys mawala gyud na kay ang mga operators are now operating the modernized jeepneys,” he said.

(Eventually, the traditional jeepneys will disappear because the operators are now operating the modernized jeepneys.)

To date, Montealto said, there are 299 modernized jeepneys and 119 buses operating within Cebu City. Seventy-two other buses are operating across Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City.

Montealto expects at least 20 more modernized jeepneys to operate within the month.

Two weeks ago, 50 more modernized jeepneys started operating from the Mactan Export Processing Zone in Lapu-Lapu City to Cordova town, and vice versa.

Montealto added that some traditional jeepney operators are still applying for a permit to operate individually since there are no more one-stop-shops in Cebu City. The one stop shop allowed operators to process permit applications in one venue.

For now, there are 244 traditional jeepneys operating in Cebu City as Mayor Edgardo Labella is yet to approve the recommendation of LTFRB to allow inter-city routes and inter-municipality routes to enter Cebu City.

“In principle, it’s already approved but we still have to wait for the approval of Mayor Labella,” Montealto said.

Once approved, traditional jeepneys from Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Liloan, and other provincial routes will be able to enter and serve passengers in Cebu City at designated stops.

In Mandaue City, Atty. John Eddu Iban~ez said only 15 TPUJs were allowed to operate.

“We expected over 200 jeepneys ang makapasar pero ang uban wala man sila naka-comply sa mga requirements mao nga 15 ra ang nakapasar,” Iban~ez said.

(We expected over 200 jeepneys would pass the assessment but the others failed to comply with requirements that’s why only 15 passed.)

Among the requirements are road worthiness test and emission test from the Land Transportation Office, permit from the traffic arm of a local government unit for its travel route, and physical inspection of the unit to check if it complies with minimum health and safety protocols such as a barrier between passengers.

It is only when a jeepney complies with these requirements that LTFRB will issue a special permit to operate. — JMO (FREEMAN)