LTFRB: New e-jeepney route up for approval

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is set to decide on the petition for the issuance of franchises for electronic jeepneys (e-jeepney) that will traverse a new route in Quezon City.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya yesterday led the inspection of the proposed e-jeepney route from SM North EDSA to Katipunan Avenue.

“Our inspection of the proposed route for e-jeepney services ushers in a new paradigm for public land transport services,” Abaya said in a statement.

“We hope this is the start of replacing smoke-belching and poorly maintained jeeps with high-tech, efficient and environment-friendly e-jeepneys,” he added.

LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said the board is set to rule on the application of transport group Pasang Masda for the issuance of a franchise for the route, which will be launched tomorrow.

He declined to give a timeline on when the application will be decided upon, but noted there is a petition for a provisional authority that will allow e-jeepneys to operate pending the issuance of the franchise.

Ginez released a copy of a DOTC memorandum, signed by Undersecretary for planning Rene Limcaoco, which said the proposal for a new route “may be given due course” by the LTFRB.

Limcaoco said electric vehicles are exempted from the moratorium on franchise applications.

But he said e-jeepney units should comply with requirements such as the use of closed-circuit television cameras and global positioning system, as well as the provision of free Wi-Fi for passengers.

The DOTC said the route must have designated stops.

The e-jeepneys – called city optimized managed electric transport (COMET) – were developed by Global Electric Transport.