MANILA, Philippines — Traditional jeepneys are still allowed to operate after March, which is the deadline for consolidation applications in relation to the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, an official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Saturday.
The deadline of the filing of applications for consolidation of individual and existing franchise holders is on March 31.
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“May mga agam-agam po kasi, lalo na sa mga PUJ (public utility jeepneys), na after March 2022 ay phaseout na daw ‘yung mga jeep. Wala naman po itong katotohanan,” LTFRB Executive Director Maria Kristina Cassion said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
(There are worries, especially among PUJ drivers, that after March 2022, jeepneys would be phased out. This is not true.)
Cassion explained that PUJs could still ply roads through a provisional authority.
“Hindi naman natin sinasabi na by March ipha-phaseout na kaagad sila. It’s part of the modernization process po natin. Isa-substitute lang naman nila ng modern vehicles ‘yung mga lumang vehicles nila. But, we all know na it will take time para sa ganito,” she pointed out.
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(We are not saying that by March, they would immediately be out. It’s part of our modernization process. They will just substitute their old vehicles into modern ones. But, we all know that this will take time.)
“In fact, after that, kahit hindi sila mag-consolidate ‘yung mga individuals, pinapayagan pa rin silang tumakbo through a provisional authority pa rin po,” she continued.
(In fact, after that, even if they do not consolidate, we will allow them to operate through a provisional authority.)
Under the consolidation, at least 15 individual franchise holders or operators will be combined into either one cooperative or corporation for proper management of PUV fleets.
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