THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday assured the commuters that there would be enough mass transport systems on Feb. 1, a day after the Jan. 31 consolidation deadline for public utility vehicles (PUVs).
Meanwhile, transport group PISTON will pursue protest actions against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) while awaiting the resumption of
a congressional hearing on the matter on Jan. 24.
LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III said they have at least two contingency measures to be mobilized should a transport crisis occur.
“We have two backup plans. On Feb. 1, on the assumption that there would be a shortage (of PUVs), there are what we call rescue vehicles. Number two, jeepneys plying the adjoining route… we will allow now those jeeps to ply that existing route with a shortage (of jeepneys) and will be issuing special permits for them,” Guadiz said.
Apart from the LTFRB’s rescue vehicles, he said concerned local government units and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would also be deploying their own free rides after LTFRB’s coordination.
He said however, that the rescue vehicles would only be fielded for one to two weeks since the agency would be issuing enough special permits to enable PUVs with consolidated franchises to operate in routes where there are a few PUVS.
The LTFRB believes that there would be no transport crisis despite more than 300 routes still below 60-percent consolidation compliance rate.
“In one route, we only look into the jeepneys, but remember in a certain route, there are buses, there are UVs, there are tricycles, there are transport network vehicle services going on those routes,” Guadiz said.
He also said some areas have a surplus in the number of PUVs because some routes have duplicated franchises that would have to be trimmed down eventually.
According to Guadiz. the consolidation rates nationwide is at 76.6 percent, while the National Capital Region was highest at 97 percent.
More PUV franchises are still anticipated to join the consolidation until Jan. 31 under the PUVMP.
Starting Feb. 1, PUVs with unconsolidated franchises will be considered colorimetric which are subject to apprehension by the Land Transportation Office and other deputized traffic personnel.
PISTON president Mody Floranda said they were readying actions, including another possible transport strike in light of the Jan. 31 consolidation deadline set by the government.
Floranda said they hope the lawmakers could halt the PUVMP implementation.
“This is part of last week’s hearing to continue another one,” he said. “Whatever the lawmakers’ decision would be… but their position was then clear to stop the modernization program.”
Guadiz earlier stood firm on the government’s stance to proceed with the PUVMP implementation and apprehension of vehicles with unconsolidated PUV franchises will commence on Feb. 1.
