By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez said the city aspires for a peaceful transition from the traditional to fully modernized public utility jeepneys (PUJs).
The talks between the city government and representatives from the various operators of traditional and modernized PUJs have begun as the city government has agreed to meet the local transport sector to resolve their issues, particularly the franchise permits of the traditional PUJ operators.
The city government said the modern jeepney operators are encouraging traditional jeepney drivers to shift to modern PUJs as they still need drivers.
On the other hand, traditional PUJ operators have been appealing to the national government to allow them to purchase the Euro 4 diesel engine only — the one used for modern PUJs — so they could assemble their own modern PUJs.
Meanwhile, data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) shows that 726 PUJ units can legally operate in Bacolod City.
The number consisted of 173 modernized PUJs, and 553 traditional PUJs whose franchises have yet to expire.
The LTFRB has also granted franchises to 1,099 units of modern PUJs for 24 routes approved under the Local Public Transport Route Plan.
Estimates show that up to 3,000 PUJs have been operating in the city.
Recently, traditional PUJ operators sought for a two-year extension to their provisional authority to operate legally.
In their letter/manifesto, they also sought for the temporary suspension of apprehensions by the LTFRB during the two-year period while they are renewing their application, and for the LTFRB to expedite the approval of franchises.
Traditional PUJ operators temporarily halted their operations last Monday, November 7, after the Land Transportation Office (LTO) started apprehending PUJs that were operating without franchises or with incomplete documents.
The city government later agreed to a 15-day moratorium which started last Wednesday, November 9, wherein the LTO will temporarily stop apprehending PUJs./DGB, WDJ