LTFRB-7 opens on Saturday

CEBU, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) -7 is opening its doors on Saturday to accept applications for consolidation from transport operators.

The extended working days started on April 20 to ensure that all transport operators who have yet to consolidate are given enough time to apply for consolidation before the April 30 deadline set by the government.

According to LTFRB-7, they will be open also on April 27 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LTFRB-7 regional director Eduardo Montealto, Jr. said that this is a national directive to give chance to the individual operators to join the industry consolidation given that the extended deadline for the filing of application is already on April 30, 2024

To recall, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. approved the extension for franchise consolidation under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), providing an opportunity to those who want to consolidate.

Montealto said that to date, 89 percent of jeepneys and UV Express in Central Visayas, mostly in Cebu, are already consolidated.

“Gamay na man lang gyud ang wala nag consolidate mga 11 percent na lang na sila equivalent to 440 units. Last na lang gyud ni nga deadline as directed by the President. Kay kung sigihan ni og extend, ang mga na consolidated na, mamahawa niya,” said Montealto.

The deadline to consolidate was extended six times already.

The government started to carry out the modernization program in 2017 and has been implementing the PUVMP to address both the aggravating transport-related problems and the future transportation demand of the country.

The program aims to fundamentally transform the public transport system in the country making both commuting and public transportation operations more dignified, humane, and at par with global standards.

It also seeks to provide Filipino commuters a comfortable ride by providing a safer, more efficient, reliable, convenient, affordable, climate-friendly, and environmentally sustainable transportation system in the country.

Earlier, LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said that the PUVMP aims to provide a better, efficient, and safe transportation service to the Filipino people, dismissing claims that it would only cause negative effects to jeepney drivers and operators in the country.— (FREEMAN)