LTFRB strips 20 jeepney operators of franchise for joining strikes in 2017

MANILA, Philippines – At least 20 jeepney operators have been stripped of their franchise to operate for allegedly joining in several strikes and protests in 2017, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.

LTFRB Chairperson Martin Delgra III said on Thursday that the removal of their Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) were based on a memorandum circular in 2014, which states that involvement in protests which would inconvenient the riding public would merit a revocation of the franchise.

“They violated the rules before, they should face the consequences now. We would not hesitate to implement this issuance because they did not consider the welfare of the passengers, which caused so much inconvenience,” Delgra said in his statement.

According to Delgra, the operators affected by the decision joined a rally that was led by Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston).

This decision supposedly also comes as a warning to operators planning to join transport strikes, including one organized by Piston and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) on September 30, next Monday, in protest of the government’s PUV Modernization Program.

Delgra also said that Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered LTFRB to penalize these operators if they push through with the strike.

“The franchise is a privilege, not a right. Stated in that privilege are the responsibilities of the operator to give commuters a safe and comfortable trip,” Delgra noted.

“If they stop operating for a day, who would be on the losing end? It’s the passengers, and we hope they would consider that,” he claimed.

LFTRB meanwhile assured that if the strike pushes through, there are contingency measures in place so that commuters would get a safe ride to work and back to their homes. /je

READ: LTFRB urges transport groups to call off Sept. 30 nationwide strike