Monday, April 11, 2005
LTFRB grants amnesty for expired franchises
OPERATORS whose franchises have expired and were no longer renewed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have no more reason to complain, said Regional Director Rogelio “Jingjing” Osmeña.
The LTFRB in Manila has decided to grant amnesty to all operators with expired certificates of public convenience (CPC) or franchises for taxis, public jeepneys and buses, he said.
Some of the franchises expired late last year and early this year. As a form of discipline for their failure to renew their franchise before it expired, the LTFRB refused to renew these.
“I think they will be happy now because LTFRB has decided to give them amnesty. But they must process it immediately because this amnesty is only up to June 30,” Osmeña.
The franchise fee rates are P5,000 for public utility jeepneys, P7,000 for taxis and P15,000 for buses, plus a penalty of P500 a month, from the date the franchise expired.
Osmeña said this is the second amnesty given by LTFRB to operators whose franchises expired. The first was last year, but still several operators failed to have their franchises renewed.
Taxi meters
Earlier, LTFRB Chairperson Maria Elena Bautista said the franchises of taxis with meters not calibrated as of Feb. 28, 2005 are deemed revoked.
Lawyer Jose Douglas Sanson, LTFRB 7 legal officer, said meters of more than 200 taxi units remained uncalibrated after the Feb. 28 deadline.
Osmeña has also announced their plan to fill up the number of franchises that were revoked or cancelled.
However, Osmeña said LTFRB authorities have changed their mind and granted another amnesty to operators.
Meanwhile, Osmeña said his office will strictly enforce the requirement to display fare rates in passenger jeepneys and buses.
“I must remind the drivers that the absence of the tariff matrix in their units is already a violation,” he said. EOB
(April 11, 2005 issue)
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