Phaseout of old jeepneys to affect more than 70% of PUJs in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines -  About 70 to 80 percent of the public utility vehicles in Cebu will be affected if and when the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board implements the phase-out of jeepneys that are more than 15 years old.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, chairman of the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CITRASCO) told The Freeman that as early as now, he is already preparing a formal manifestation to air their side on the issue.

Yu said although the “jeepney phase-out” talks are still ongoing and there is no definite decision yet on this matter, he will propose that the implementation should not be sweeping.

“If LTFRB will implement it, we will propose nga it should be gradual ug dili kausahon lang unlike sa ilang gihimo sa mga buses,” Yu said.

Cebu has over 10,000 jeepneys and majority of the units are more than 15 years old.

This September, LTFRB is set to phase out buses that are more than 13 years old.

Julieto Flores, spokesperson of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, earlier said that majority of the bus and mini-bus operators in Cebu strongly oppose this.

“Daku ming supak kay kung ipatuman na, mahurot ang mga buses ug mini-buses nato dinhi sa Cebu, (We are strongly against this move because if this is implemented, Cebu will run out of buses.)” said Flores.

LTFRB Resolution 2013-01 was issued on January 11, 2013 mandated the strict observance nationwide of the 15-year age limit of buses and mini-buses even on units with road worthiness and Motor Vehicle Inspection Section certificates.

The said resolution added that no unit shall be the subject to a new application for franchise, extension of validity of certificate of public convenience, substitution of units and for increase of number of units if the said unit is more than the minimum requirement as specified by the time of expiration of the covering Certificates of Public Conveyance.

About 80 percent of the buses in Cebu will be affected if the resolution will be implemented while around 50 percent of the mini-buses will suffer the same fate.

There are around 1,600 buses and mini-buses operating in Cebu based on LTFRB-7 records. (FREEMAN)