THE entire City Council of Baguio is backing the plea of transport groups on “unreasonable” orders of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Reynardo Bacoco led transport groups on Monday at the City Council to get support in their opposition to LTFRB orders seen to be detrimental to livelihood of the sector.
Bacoco said the LTFRB order mandates all single franchise holders to consolidate into either a single cooperative or corporation; if not, run the risk of losing their franchises.
Bacoco laments another provision of the order that forces conversion to the modernization plan to phaseout old jeepneys and acquire Euro 4 engine types.
“Ang pinakamabigat sa Memorandum Circular ay yung after consolidation, the single juridical entity will receive its approved consolidated decision, magpapalit lahat ng compliant units within three months, lahat ng jeepneys natin knockout,” added Bacoco.
Bacoco, who represents the Cordillera Van Federation Association Inc. and the Lourdes Dominican Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, said that at present, there are 3,143 units of taxi, 4,139 public utility jeepneys, 56 units of registered school service providers, 124 public utility buses and 368 registered UV Express units in the city.
Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is a flagship program of the Duterte administration that envisions a restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector where drivers and operators have stable, sufficient and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably.
The DOTr, LTFRB, LTO and OTC, as well as the other concerned agencies will conduct a pilot implementation in order to review and assess whether the new policies are responsive and efficient in achieving the program’s intended outcomes.