MODERN jeepneys operated by Beep Cebu will temporarily cease operations for six months starting October 1, 2023.
The bus company’s management issued a memorandum on September 22, 2023, for the said undertaking.
Beep Cebu cited the lack of spare parts for its units due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the delay in granting its request for route or extension modifications, the ongoing BRT construction that affects Beep Cebu’s route from Guadalupe to Carbon, and the losses it incurred as a result of the special permits given to the other rival modern public utility jeepneys from Cebu City Hall to IT Park in Barangay Apas and from Banawa to Sitio Panagdait in Barangay Kasambagan.
It was learned that the majority of Beep Cebu's units were produced in Russia, with some also coming from China.
But Eduardo Montealto Jr., regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB 7), said that Beep Cebu has not yet sent them a letter informing them of their decision to cease operations.
For this reason, Montealto said they will issue a show cause order against the company to let them explain their side on the issue.
But Montealto reassured the public that they should not be concerned about the group's decision because there are still plenty of transportation cooperatives that can take the place of those who quit.
"Dili ra, atong pulihan. Ato ipa-show cause order kay so far, wala man ko'y nadawat nga communication. Dili man pod na pwede nga diha diha dayon. Pero daghan kaayo mag-ilog ana," Montealto said on Monday, September 25.
(It will not affect, let's replace them. We will issue a show cause order, but I haven't heard from them as of yet. Of course, they won’t cease operations right away. But there are too many (modern bus operators) who will grab the opportunity.)
"Daghan man kaayo ta og cooperatives ang atong federation sa cooperatives naay eight cooperatives, naa na sila'y 20 percent sa ilang fleet. Example, naa silay 100 ka units ang 20 ana standby na wala nagdagan maong daghan ta og ikapuli. Ang competition ana man gud is sa traditional pero wala pa gipabalik ang traditonal jeepneys so okay kaayo unta ilang income," he added.
(We have a lot of cooperatives. In fact, our cooperative federation has eight cooperatives, with 20 percent of its entire fleet or 20 of 100 modern jeepney units on standby and may be utilized to replace those unable to operate. Their competitors are the traditional jeepneys but since some of these were not allowed to operate, their income was adequate.)
According to Montealto, traditional jeepneys with special permits to operate are still in service to transport both the employees and students, especially given the strong demand for it after classes at all three school levels started last August.
In order to reduce the number of jeepney cooperatives, Montealto also reminded the traditional jeepney operators to merge before the deadline on December 31, 2023. (ANV/TPT)