LTFRB issues show cause orders vs 821 PUVs

By Ernie Delgado

MASBATE CITY --- The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued show cause orders against 821 public utility vehicle (PUV) operators in the Bicol region, directing them to explain why their PUVs should not be stripped of their franchises to serve passengers for failing to consolidate.

The orders direct the 821 to show cause why their franchises should not be invalidated for failing to form themselves into cooperatives or corporations.

“Sa saklaw ng (in the scope of the) principle of due process, binibigyan sila ngayon ng LTFRB sa ating rehiyon ng (the LTFRB in our region is now giving them) show cause orders, at sila ay diringgin sa (and they will be heard at the) legal department of LTFRB,” said Johnny Sacdalan, chief planner of the transport agency’s office in Bicol.

Speaking at the Ugnayan sa Bicol on Thursday, Sacdalan said that during the hearing, the operators must explain why they refused to combine into fleets as mandated by the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) and why they ignored the government’s extension on four separate occasions.

“Pagkatapos nito magkakaroon ng decision ang bawat unit or bawat operator na hindi sumunod sa consolidation ay talagang mawawalan ng prangkisa at pag nawalan na sila ng prangkisa ang ibig sabihin nyan ay hindi na sila pwedeng pumasada,” he added.

(After this there will be a decision for each unit or operator and those who did not comply with the consolidation will lose their franchise and once they lost their franchise that means they can no longer ferry passengers.)

Bicol, comprising six provinces, has 419 routes serviced by jeepneys, vans, mini-buses, and buses covered by the PUV modernization program’s deadline for consolidation, which lapsed last April 30, according to Sacdalan.

Sacdalan said the region had a total of 6,286 PUVs with individual franchises to serve passengers, and 5,465 (88 percent) of them have joined transport cooperatives that will be required to purchase “modern jeepneys” or mini-buses to replace the traditional PUVs.

If drivers or operators were to lose their jobs, the government will assist, he said.

As part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), the Department of Labor and Employment and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will help them find new employment or create livelihood opportunities, he added. (EAD/PIA Masbate)