LTFRB says no phaseout of jeepneys

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday assured transport groups that there would be no phase out of public utility jeepneys.

"I would like to assure everyone here in this room and the public that there is always room for all three mode of public transport... from buses to PUJ (public utility jeepneys)... Wala ho maphephase-out. There is room for everybody," said LTFRB Chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III in a report by Oscar Oida on "24 Oras."

Transport groups who initially planned to stage a three-day transport strike cancelled their plan as they lauded the LTFRB's decision.

"Sa nakikita namin, naniniwala pa rin kami sa sinabi ni Sec. Tugade na walang phase-out," Efren A. De Luna, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) chairman and national president, said.

The LTFRB clarified that the agency would just "modernize" the jeepneys. They would apply a transition period for the expenses of this modernization.

"Sa bangko sabi nila, 'we will lower the interest rate... we will lower the equity and then what will happen is that we will spread the repayment scheme more than 5 years. They can even.. they're even thinking 7 years," Delgra said.

Moreover, the LTFRB said they are looking into the possibility of creating a consolidated group of operators.

"Ang tinitingnan natin dito from the point of view of the regulation is the number of vehicles that we need on a route, not the number of so many operators on that route," Delgra said.

However, some transport groups were not in favor of this plan.

"Hindi naman nila napaliwanag nga eh. Halimbawa 'yung group na 'yun ay nagkaroon ng tinatawag natin na aksidente 'yung isa, o ngayon kapag nagkaroon ng aksidente, baka lahat iyon ay suspendido," De Luna said.

Moreover, the LTFRB is planning to use the automatic fare collection scheme in jeepneys.

"We would like to see the day when sigurado 'yung operator na 'yung unang makahawak ng pera, 'yung operator. Siyempre pag-tap ng pasahero doon sa card niya, eh pupunta na 'yan sa account ng operator hindi sa account ng driver," Delgra said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News