The first day of 2024 has been a commuters’ nightmare. The early morning of January 1 started with commuters waiting for hours hoping to catch a jeepney ride towards Tacloban and its nearby towns. However, not one single jeepney was traveling the route that day. While many believed that it was due to the jeepney modernization program wherein unconsolidated jeepneys were prohibited from traveling, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) says otherwise.
LTFRB had said that there is no phase out as drivers and operators are still permitted to operate provided that they are already consolidated as of date. Consolidation involves the formation of transport cooperatives or other legal entities, which will be entitled to such benefits as government subsidies and access to credit facilities to help them modernize their fleets and run the modernized units systematically and predictably
Upon visiting the Marasbaras terminal, only jeepneys from Pastrana, Jaro and Dagami were seen alongside vans and modern jeepneys. Drivers from Jaro told Opinyon 8 that they continue to operate due to the fact that they have been consolidated for almost 2 years now.
Just a hang-over
Several drivers have also disclosed that jeepneys from the municipalities of Tolosa, Tanauan and Dulag might not have been consolidated yet hence their absence from the road. However, upon interview, several drivers from the said municipalities disclosed that they simply did not risk traveling due to hangovers. (They engaged in heavy drinking during the New Year’s eve revelry.)
They assured that there was nothing for the public to panic as they had been able to consolidate just before the year 2023 ended.
In fact, LTFRB disclosed that 94 percent of public utility vehicles (PUV) in Eastern Visayas have consolidated for the PUV modernization program. This also means that the region is one of the highest in the country in terms of consolidation, ensuring enough PUV units to transport commuters through different routes.
“All towns have operators belonging to consolidated entities, so we don’t expect a transport crisis in any part of the region. Some are still using traditional PUVs but they are required to secure provisional authority from our office,” Reposar said.
The official further noted that in order to be allowed, a unit should simply be operating under a consolidated franchise and route.
"As of now, ok pa an mga traditional units, gin aallow pa namon kay makuri pa ha ira pagpurchase hin bago nga units kay meada requirements it financial institution nga beyond hit capacity hit mga coops/corp nga macomply...kay LGU man it nahimo hito nga required documents."
Of the 3,692 registered PUVs in the region, about 3,480 units, including more than 700 modern buses and jeepneys, have consolidated since the Department of Transportation (DOTr) launched the program in 2017 until the end of December 2023. This year, LTFRB will only allow the operation of consolidated traditional PUV units with provisional authority.
Meanwhile, Tolosa, now with only 16 units allowed to operate has its residents concerned considering that work and classes have already resumed. "Makakuruan gad kay makuri it panakayan. Mamaya sayo manulod late la ghap," Jane, a commuter from Tolosa, said.
Meanwhile, Municipal Councilor Tata Zabala said the Local Government Unit have been looking into providing services to help commuters by possibly providing free transportation. However, that is still up for approval.
Like Tolosa, other municipalities such as Tanauan, Dulag and Mayorga who were also initially thought to have traditional jeepneys seized to operate were later seen traversing the usual routes the following days.
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