A TOTAL of 650 modern jeepneys are running on the streets of Metro Cebu all the way to Liloan in the north and Minglanilla in the south.
They will be joined by 170 additional units in the coming weeks, said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr.
Majority of the modern jeeps are in Cebu City, followed by the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay and the towns of Minglanilla, Consolacion and Liloan.
According to Montealto, the 170 units are already here. Their papers are being processed so they can start operation, he said.
The minimum fare for a modern jeepney is P9 for a non-air-conditioned unit and P11 for an air-conditioned unit.
The LTFRB 7 said they expect around 4,000 modern jeepneys to be running in Metro Cebu by December.
March 31, 2021 was the last day for drivers and operators who operate traditional jeepneys to consolidate their fleets for the government’s modernization program for public utility vehicles.
According to the LTFRB, “those who failed to consolidate after March 31 may be allowed to operate under a provisional authority for one year or until a consolidated entity of units compliant with the omnibus franchising guidelines is formed on their route.”
The government hopes to encourage smaller transport groups to merge and form a cooperative that will oversee the operation and maintenance of the units.
Metro Cebu has been suffering from a lack of public transportation with only a little over 400 traditional jeepneys operating on the streets on shorter routes.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, more than 5,000 traditional jeepneys operated in Cebu City alone. (PAC / PJB)