LTFRB: Unconsolidated drivers cannot ply roads even without show cause 

Traditional jeepney drivers and operators who failed to consolidate their public utility vehicles (PUVs) into cooperatives should cease operations following the April 30 deadline for the consolidation process, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Friday. 

LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the agency had yet to issue show-cause orders on unconsolidated jeepney drivers and operators, requiring them to explain their failure to comply with the government’s deadline. 

"Marami na po nakatanggap ng show cause order. Kahit sabihin nila na wala pang show cause order, hindi na po sila talaga dapat bumiyahe because by May 2 wala na po silang prangkisa,” said Guadiz in Oscar Oida’s “24 Oras” report. 

(A lot of jeepney drivers and operators received show-cause orders. But even without it, they should stop plying their routes because their franchise expired on May 2.)

The LTFRB previously announced it would start apprehending unconsolidated jeepney drivers starting Thursday, May 16.

Guadiz said that PUV operators that did not apply to consolidate operations as part of the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) after the April 30 deadline would already be considered illegal, and their unconsolidated jeepneys would be deemed as “colorum.”

“Nag-a-identify na po kami ng areas where there's a mopping up of operations. We will not set dates to put on an element of surprise,” the LTFRB chief said.

(We identified areas where there is a mopping-up operation. We will not set dates for the element of surprise.)

“Yung critical areas... tumawag po ako sa director ng LTFRB and we will be issuing permits on those about two or three critical areas lang naman po,” he added. 

(We will be issuing permits on two or three critical areas.)

Meanwhile, Guadiz allayed fears the PUVMP would lead to a loss of livelihood for jeepney drivers.

"We have a P200 million fund that we'll give them the incentive po na gagamitin nila sa negosyong gusto nilang pasukin,” he added. 

(We have a P200 million fund that we'll give to drivers as incentives. They can use it to put up their own business.)

Jeepney drivers ply routes 

Meanwhile, some jeepney drivers returned to plying their routes on May 17, after the LTFRB did not apprehend unconsolidated jeepney units on Thursday. 

"Kasi pinaghirapan talaga namin ito. Sinasabi ko nga kami mismo, nag-produce kami ng sariling hanapbuhay nakakapagserbisyo kami sa publiko na walang tulong ang gubyerno sa amin, na kahit isang turnilyo wala man lang ibinigay sa amin. Tapos ngayon tatanggalan kami ng hanapbuhay,” a jeepney driver said. 

(We worked hard for our livelihood. We produced this on our own and we provide the public with a service through this. Then they will take it away from us?)

"Siguro hindi pa kami colorum kasi sa sinasabi nila na bago ikansela ang aming prangkisa may mga proseso tulad ng LPTRP at route rationalization,” he said. 

(Maybe we’re not colorum units as they say. The LTFRB said there will be processes before the franchise cancellation such as the LPTRP and the  route rationalization.)

“Bukod doon, wala pa naman sila binababa, lalo na 'yung papadalhan daw kami show cause order, wala pa nakakarating sa amin,” he added. 

(We have yet to receive a copy of the SCO.)

The consolidation is the initial stage of the government's PUVMP which aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace units that were not deemed roadworthy under the standards of the Land Transportation Office.

The Department of Transportation stood firm that they would implement the PUVMP while awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition of jeepney drivers and operators to halt the program. — Sundy Mae Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News