BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong today said he will support the transport sector’s appeal for the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LFRB) to defer the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program in the city for a later date.
Magalong said he recently met with stakeholders from the transport sector who requested that the timeline for the PUV modernization program be pushed back to allow them to recover from the ill effects of the pandemic as well as the unabated increase in fuel prices.
“I am waiting for the transport sector to submit their manifesto so I can endorse it to the Department of Transportation,” Magalong said.
He explained that the manifesto will reflect the number of years or period the transport sector will ask for the postponement of the PUV modernization program.
“Our transport sector, jeepneys and taxis, will not be able to comply with the PUV modernization program and we are hoping for the consideration of the DOTR,” Magalong said.
DOTR Department Order No. 2017-11 issued on June 19, 2017 requires that supposedly by the end of December 2020, bus, taxi, utility vehicle (UV) express and jeepney operators and drivers must have consolidated their fleets under the public utility vehicle modernization program, otherwise, their franchises will be considered as expired.