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Bacolod, Negros Occidental transport groups seek Dec. 31 deadline extension

Published Dec 23, 2023 10:48 am

BACOLOD CITY – Transport groups here and in the province of Negros Occidental called on the government to extend the December 31 deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators.

Rudy Catedral, president of the Bacolod Alliance for Commuters Operators and Drivers (Bacod), said that around 800 drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys joined a protest march from Araneta St. to the Fountain of Justice, on Friday, December 22, to oppose the deadline set by the government for the phase out of traditional jeepneys.

JEEPNEY PROTEST.jpg

TRANSPORT groups in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental rally against the public utility vehicle consolidation deadline on December 31. (Photo courtesy of Bacod)

Based on Memorandum Circular (MC) 2023-17 of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Western Visayas, all traditional jeepneys are allowed to operate through an extended provisional authority until December 31.

Catedral said they are asking for an extension as they believe that the government is not yet ready for the modernization of the transport industry.

However, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that he will not extend the December 31 deadline for the consolidation of PUV operators, considering that 70 percent of all operators “have already committed to and consolidated” under the PUV Modernization Program, and the government cannot allow further delays in its implementation, as these affect majority of the PUV operators, banks, financial institutions, and the public.

Because of this, Catedral, aid they will continue to conduct more protest actions in January.

Catedral said their next move will depend on the action of the national transport groups to defend the livelihood of the traditional jeepney drivers in the country.

He said commuters will definitely suffer if traditional jeepneys will no longer be allowed to operate as streets only have limited number of modernized jeepneys.

Catedral said they are still hoping that the national government will extend their provisional authority to enable them to continue  operations.

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