40% of Cebu buses due for phaseout

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LFTRB) will strictly implement the phaseout of dilapidated and old buses and jeepneys.

Newly appointed LTFRB chairman Winston M. Ginez said public utility vehicles (PUV), especially buses, that are 15 years old or more will have to be taken out of the streets “to protect the riding public.”

Ginez, who was instrumental in the successful prosecution of Chief Justice Renato Corona who was impeached in 2011 and removed from office, was in Cebu to meet with the agency’s regional officials.

He said vehicles that have reached its age limit will not be allowed to be registered as a PUV.

The LTFRB chief estimates that at least 40 percent of buses in Cebu will be affected by the planned phase out.

A vehicle’s manufacturing and registration dates would serve as the basis for computing its age.

Public transport operators who who will be affected b y the LTFRB plan will have two options: to substitute the unit or buy a new unit to replace the phased out vehicle or sell their franchise to other operators.

Phased out vehicles can still be registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) as private vehicles.

Operators who will continue to operate old vehicles will face sanctions.

“Operators nationwide are being mandated to modernize public vehicles,” Ginez said.