LTFRB says no more extension for unconsolidated PUVs

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday said the proposal to extend the provisional authority to operate unconsolidated jeepneys is officially off the table.

This was suggested by a House lawmaker back in May in the hopes that naysayers would have more time to see and appreciate the benefits of consolidation, which is required under the public transport modernization program.

LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III initially said that his agency will study the proposal.

LTFRB to consider proposal to let unconsolidated jeepneys keep operating

“Hindi na ho siguro natin sa ngayon mapag-aaralan pa 'yung suhestiyon dahil ang gusto po ng liderato is ituloy na po. Dire-diretso na 'yung ating modernization program,” said Guadiz after meeting with officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday.

Guadiz also said that the guidelines for the on-the-ground apprehension of unconsolidated jeepneys is still pending the approval of the DOTr.

CRACKDOWN ON THE UNCONSOLIDATED

While that has yet to play out, he noted that the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have already started implementing other measures to crack down on what they consider as colorum jeepneys like making it a requirement for registration.

“We do not allow their registration anymore, nung mga hindi sumama. Sa kalye naman po, we apprehend them for being unregistered pero pag tutubusin na nila we require them to produce their papers for consolidation,” said Guadiz.

Erring operators and drivers will now also be sued for violating the Public Service Act. That’s on top of the P50,000 peso fine for operators, and the 1-year suspension of their driver’s license.

“Obviously po kasi yung penalty is not enough para ma-discourage 'yung mga tsuper at operator,” said Guadiz.

And if that's not enough to discourage colorum drivers, the LTO said their vehicles will not be released unless they get a court order.

LTO won’t release ‘colorum’ vehicles without court order

“Pending the criminal case, the unit should not be released without a court order as the vehicle is part of the evidence of the crime. Releasing the vehicle is tantamount to Infidelity in the Custody of Evidence,” LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza said in a statement.

Transport group Manibela slammed the new enforcement guidelines as unjust, saying this may just force them to mount another major protest next week.

“Hindi ko po alam bakit kailangan ng court order. Hindi naman po mga kriminal ito. Nagsimula po kami, may prangkisa kami. Sila po ang may ayaw i-renew (ito),” said Manibela Chairman Mar Valbuena.

Members of PISTON meanwhile continued to put pressure on the Supreme Court to act on their petition for a temporary restraining order against the government’s jeepney modernization program.