LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said in a press briefing on Monday that he is willing to meet Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide’s (Piston) demand to bring back the five-year validity of franchises for jeepney operators.
The LTFRB currently offers a one-year provisional authority for jeepneys in line with the public utility vehicle modernization program.
“We are willing to sit down with them and agree to that. But the moment po na sumama na sila sa modernization program, pu-pwede naman po naming ibigay iyong five years na hinihingi nila,” said Guadiz.
(But the moment they join the modernization program, we will be able to give them the five years they are asking for.)
Guadiz said that he will reiterate in his meeting with Piston that there is no need to finish the whole consolidation process for jeepney operators on its deadline on December 31.
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“By the mere filing, pwede ka na maconsider as consolidated. These [five-year validity of franchise and discussion on consolidation] are two steps na pwede kong ilapit sa kanila para umusad na po itong usapan at matigil na po itong kanilang strike,” he said.
(By the mere filing, you can now be considered as consolidated. These [five-year validity of franchise and discussion on consolidation] are two steps that I can bring to them so that this conversation can move forward and their strike can be stopped.)
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Guadiz noted that about 85 to 90 percent of jeepney operators are expected to comply with the consolidation on or before its due date.
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Piston is currently holding a transport strike to oppose the approaching December 31 deadline for the consolidation of traditional jeepneys under the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program.
It started on Monday and will end on Thursday.