Next week, approximately more than 1,000 franchises of traditional jeepneys here in Laguna province that have failed to “consolidate” their franchises will be branded as colorum by authorities. (Editor’s note: on January 25, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. extended the deadline of PUV franchise consolidation to April 30.)
Even so, the national government has continued its glib, lighthearted pronouncements that no, commuters won’t be affected, those “unconsolidated” franchises are less than half (about 19 percent here in Laguna province, to be exact) of the total franchises of PUVs currently operating here in Laguna, and that the government is allegedly ready to shoulder the burden both of commuters who will face less transport options and drivers and operators who will lose their livelihood.
Lately, some government officials even have the gall to advise the public, in the wake of the recent reports declaring Metro Manila’s (and, by extension, nearby provinces’) traffic the “worst in the world,” to take public transportation to ease the problem of traffic.
What a twist! Deprive commuters of about 20 percent of public transportation and then tell them to solve the traffic problem by taking public transportation!
It’s telling, by the way, that local government units (LGUs) here in Laguna province have been strangely silent on the issue of public transportation.
Maybe it’s because it’s no secret that in parts of Laguna province, some jeepney routes that can be considered “colorum” by the national government have been allowed by LGUs (even given “local” franchises) due to the lack of viable transportation means, especially in rural areas.
Let’s not forget, too, that LGUs not only in Laguna province but in the entire Philippines have been directed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to craft a so-called Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) that will determine viable local PUV routes as well as the number of modern PUV units that will ply those routes.
Here in Laguna province, only one LGU (Kalayaan town) has formally submitted an LPTRP, records from the LTFRB show.
Here’s a serious, valid question we can – and should – ask our local officials: how are they going to solve the problem of PUV modernization in a province that has been very slow to adapt to the program (with valid reasons)?
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