DOTr: Omnibus franchising guidelines for PUVs to be signed June 19
By Philippne News Agency
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will sign on June 19 the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) in line with the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program in the country.
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said the release of the OFG will lift the moratorium on the application for new franchises to be granted to PUV operators.
“By June 19, we will sign the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG). The OFG will provide rules and strategies for issuing public transportation franchises to improve public land transport,” the transportation secretary said in his address before leaders and members of the nationwide transportation cooperatives at the 3rd National Congress for the Transport Cooperative Sector held over the weekend in Santiago City, Isabela province.
Tugade also disclosed that the department will continue implementing online processing of driver's license applications.
The PUV modernization program seeks to make public transport safe and enjoyable, reduce air pollution, and move people efficiently.
The franchising guidelines are expected to eliminate illegally franchised vehicles by rationalizing routes according to the needs of local government units (LGUs).
PUVs are to be provided in underserved areas while those routes that are heavily congested will be rationalized. LGUs will be required to submit their route plans, which will serve as the basis for the franchises to be issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The government has provided a financial assistance program for public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators and drivers to modernize the country's public transport.
The Landbank’s Special Environment Friendly and Efficiently Driven (SPEED) program will provide a credit facility to drivers and operators to enable them to replace their PUJs in compliance with the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
An initial budget of PHP1 billion for individual loans will be awarded to 650 PUJ operators and drivers in Metro Manila to enable them to acquire a jeepney with a minimum requirement of Euro-4 engine or better.