Regular commuters warned without transport after March 31
UNLESS and until the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan grant the jeepney operators’ request for the extension of the deadline for the implementation of the Local Transport Route Plan (LTRP), there will be no traditional jeepneys on the streets to serve commuters after March 31.
According to Bernard Tuliao, president of the more than 3,000-strong Alliance of United Transport Organizations Provincewide (AUTOPro), said a big percentage of their members will be affected by the LTRP that was drawn up by local transport organizations with the LTFRB) last year and adopted in an ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan under the Guico administration.
He clarified that the LTRP it is a different policy being imposed by LTFRB on their counterparts in Metro Manila and in other regions, requiring traditional jeepneys to modernize.
Pangasinan is the only province in the country that adopted an LTRP with the help of LTFRB regional office so far.
Under the LTRP drawn up last year, existing routes in Pangasinan were consolidated and unserved routes were provided while the number of PUVs servicing routes were also reduced.
Tuliao pointed out that traditional jeepneys in the country were given by LTFRB until June 30, 2023 to consolidate by joining existing transport cooperatives or corporations and those that will not, will have their respective franchises revoked. All the consolidated jeepneys are allowed to operate until December 31, 2023 only in line with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Plan.
He said his group is not joining the five-day “Tigil Pasada” set on March 6.
The petition filed by AUTOPro with LTFRB regional office seeks extension of the LTRP’s March 31 deadline for the phase out of all traditional jeepneys in Pangasinan to enable operators and drivers enough time to modernize their units.
“We are seeking a little extension. Palagay ko, if given an extension, we can comply with the demands for modernization,” Tuliao said.
If LTFRB rejects AUTOPro’s request, Tuliao said only the few existing modern jeepneys will be left on the road to service the needs of commuters in 48 towns and cities of Pangasinan after March 31, 2023, and will cripple local economy.
Under the timeline and capabilities of operators to consolidate to modernize, he said he expects the plan to be fully completed by November 2024. (Leonardo Micua)
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