Deadline to consolidate transport fleets extended

Public transport operators who have not consolidated their fleets can do so until April 16 as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extended the deadline anew for areas under enhanced community quarantine. Fleet consolidation is a requirement for operators of public transport, especially jeepneys and buses, before they can modernize their units. The LTFRB said public utility vehicle operators in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal could still apply for consolidation until 10 working days after the last day of the lockdown. Jeepney operators have strongly opposed the fleet management scheme, which they said could phase out their old routes. —Mariejo S. Ramos