BACOLOD CITY – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Western Visayas have agreed to temporarily stop their operations for two weeks against traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and public utility vehicles (PUVs) with no franchise and business permits here.
This was agreed upon in their meeting with city officials, following a dialogue with drivers and operators at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said that these vehicles were allowed to ply the streets starting Wednesday, Nov. 9, provided that PUJ operators need to follow the directive of the national government with regards to the transport modernization program.
PUJ operators need to submit a deed of undertaking stating that they will comply with the requirements to join a cooperative since only consolidated operators are given probational authority to operate by the LTFRB.
Transport industry players must form transport service cooperatives (TSCs) to facilitate consolidation and collective ownership of PUVs in preparation for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) which began in June 2017.
The program aims to phase out traditional jeepneys and other PUVs at least 15-years-old and replace them with more comfortable and environment-friendly vehicles in three years.