By JEN BAYLON
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Western Visayas (LTFRB-6) has no immediate plans to strictly enforce a crackdown against unconsolidated traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs), as they await apprehension guidelines from the central office.
LTFRB-6 officer-in-charge Atty. Salvador Altura said for now they will not yet strictly apprehend unconsolidated PUJs after April 30, the final deadline for franchise consolidation under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Altura said that unconsolidated PUJs cannot operate after the deadline.
Earlier, the LTFRB said unconsolidated PUJ drivers and operators will be required to explain why they were unable to comply with the consolidation.
The latest data from LTFRB-6, as of April 29, showed that 69.2 percent or 8,524 PUJs in the region have been consolidated.
In Bacolod City, only 579 units or 27 percent underwent consolidation.
An estimated 2,500 unconsolidated PUJ units will be losing their franchise after the final consolidation deadline, data showed.
Meanwhile, around 3,000 drivers and operators of traditional PUJs in Bacolod and Negros Occidental went on strike yesterday, as they protested against PUVMP and the phase out of traditional units.
Lilian Sembrano, Kabakod Negros Transport Coalition president, emphasized that they want to demonstrate the impact on commuters if traditional PUJs are no longer operating in the city.
Sembrano said they do not oppose the government’s modernization program, but they are willing to consolidate if they are provided with proper financing for the procurement of modernized jeepney units.
The United Negros Drivers and Operators Center also conducted rallies on major streets in the city yesterday.
The Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Associations and the Sentrong Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Negros did not join the two-day transport strike.
On the other hand, the Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers Inc. (BACOD) debunked Altura’s claims that there were enough jeepney units during the conduct of a transport strike on April 30.
In a radio interview yesterday, BACOD president Rudy Catedral said many commuters struggled to find means of transportation during the strike.
He further emphasized that if more than 1,000 traditional jeepneys did not operate in the city, the impact on commuters would be significant.
He also urged the government to recognize the problem, and support the extension of the consolidation deadline for jeepney drivers. / With reports from GMA Regional TV / JB, WDJ