CEBU, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 said that traditional jeepneys are still not allowed to travel in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu despite these areas being already under modified general community quarantine effective yesterday.
LTFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. said that public utility vehicles such as buses, mini buses, modern jeepneys, taxi units and TNVS are allowed to operate in these areas.
However, he clarified that consolidated traditional jeepneys were allowed to ply their respective routes in Cebu province.
“Sa tri-cities man gud, we have sufficient buses, mini buses ug modern jeepneys nga pwede modagan ani nga mga routes,” Montealto said.
As of now, there are 170 modernized jeepneys allowed to travel in these in tri-cities.
Montealto said that more brand-new modern jeepneys, whose operators opted to drop their old units in favor of the new ones, will soon be plying in the tri-cities as the financial loan for the acquisition of 25 units was already approved yesterday.
He explained that 30 percent of the passengers of the traditional jeepneys are mostly students.
“Kadaghanan sa mga pasahero sa traditional jeepneys kay mga estudyante gyud. Unya karon ang mga estudyante bawal pa man ang face to face nga klase, mao na sa pagka karon no need padaganon ang mga traditional jeepneys in these cities,” Montealto said.
But he said many traditional jeepney operators in these tri-cities have already consolidated their units and maybe be allowed to operate once the need arises.
“For example kung mas daghan na nga mga businesses mag operate kay we will have less restrictions sa atong quarantine, they may be allowed to operate na but not now,” he said.
Montealto further said that with the much relaxed quarantine status, the riding public must still remain vigilant and continue to wear face masks and face shields while inside the public transportation, which is mandated to continue to implement the 50 percent seating capacity.
Meanwhile, the LTFRB-7 chief issued yesterday the Regional Memorandum Number 2020-R7-014 which allows the automatic renewal of all special permits to all PUV except truck for hire without extra fee effective September 1 to 6, 2020.
“After September 6, 2020, all special permits will be deemed cancelled unless another extension will be granted. Likewise, all PUVs with special permit will be tantamount to colorum operations,” the memo read.
The memo added that modernized jeepneys shall operate in their authorized routes per certificate of public convenience with corresponding issuance of special permit. — JMD (FREEMAN)