MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday said it is still studying the possibility of allowing jeepneys that did not go through franchise consolidation to keep operating for at least a year, as proposed by a lawmaker during a hearing at the House of Representatives back in May.

Speaking at a forum in Quezon City, LTFRB Board Member Mercy Paras-Leynes said the proposal will be discussed during the regulator’s board meeting next week.

“That’s one of the agenda (items) — to revisit how we can further relieve those who did not comply or participate in the [Public Transport Modernization Program], yung effects ng non-consolidation,” she said.

The PTMP is better known as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, a term that LTFRB and other government agencies also use for the initiative.

Rizal 3rd District Rep. Jojo Garcia has suggested granting operators not part of a tranport cooperative a one-year provisional authority to give them time to see the benefits of consolidation, which is required under the jeepney modernization program.

The LTFRB earlier said that those who failed to meet the April 30 consolidation deadline will be considered colorum — or unauthorized — vehicles and will no longer be allowed to ply their routes.

The regulator is still working on revoking the franchises of operators who did not go through consolidation before it begins apprehending them if they go on the road. 

“Currently, the LTFRB Central Office and all franchising regional offices are conducting hearings and issuance of show-cause orders para doon sa mga hindi nakapag-consolidate,” said Paras-Leynes.

The LTFRB meanwhile aims to issue the franchises of consolidated entities within the year.

“Ang target namin d'yan would be by the end of the year, all of the consolidated entities will now have their consolidated franchises pursuant sa ating PTMP,” she said.

“Sabay nating ina-assist yung nag-consolidate saka yung hindi until such time that the DOTr (Department of Transportation), the LTFRB and the LTO determine that it is now ready for full regulatory operations,” added Paras-Leynes.

READ: DOTr urged to focus on select routes first on jeepney modernization

ANOTHER TRANSPORT STRIKE?

Meanwhile, the DOTr was unbothered by the latest announcement of transport group Manibela that it would again conduct a transport strike from June 10 to 12.

DOTr Undersecretary for the Road Sector Andy Ortega said government agencies already know what to do to make sure that passengers are not affected by such protest actions.

“Sanay na po yung lahat ng agency. In fact, our commuters in Metro Manila, sanay na po sa kanilang plano… Siguro po yung paglalabas lang ng kanilang saloobin, we will give that right to them. Importante lang po, maging disiplinado tayo. Wala po tayong gagawing labag sa batas sa kalye,” said Ortega.

(Our agencies are used to this. In fact our, our commuters in Metro Manila are used to their planned protests. We will allow them to express their sentiments, but they should do it with discipline. They should not do things that violate traffic rules.)

According to Ortega, the public transportation system continues to run normally even after the consolidation deadline, which is proof, he said, that enough public utility vehicle operators that joined the government program.

“We have enough consolidated (entities) to really ply the routes para matugunan yung pangangailangan ng ating commuters,” he said.

Ortega said the agency is now focused on implementing the next steps of the program, particularly route rationalization and fleet modernization, especially since investor interest is also rising.

“Lumalabas na po yung different organizations, agencies who are very much willing to invest to help sa pagmo-modernize ng ating system ng transportasyon and we will see this soon,” he said.

But he also noted that the DOTr is seeking additional funds to help support the transport workers who will be left out of the program.