The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will hold its last deliberation to phase out traditional jeepneys with electric vehicles.
However, a transport group opposed the said public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
In an interview, Manibela national president mar Valbuena stated that as part of the industry consolidation guidelines for the PUV modernization program, jeepney drivers and operators must deal with rising fuel prices as well as the costs of organizing themselves into cooperatives.
According to him, they must pay a monthly amortization of nearly P500,000 for the operation of 10 to 15 modern jeepneys, which cost up to P2.7 million each.
Valbuena chastised the LTFRB for informing drivers that they would be unable to operate their routes if they did not meet the program's franchise application deadline.
The LTFRB previously announced that the validity of the provisional authority or franchise for traditional jeepneys would expire in Metro Manila in April and nationwide by the end of March.
Although the government-run Land Bank of the Philippines offers loans for the purchase of modern jeepneys and the LTFRB offers borrowers a P160,000 subsidy, the overall cost for jeepney drivers is still too high as a result of shorter routes and a smaller number of commuters due to remote work, according to Valbuena.
The LTFRB and Department of Transportation are being urged by transportation organizations to extend the deadline for PUV franchise holders to consolidate.
Teofilo Guadiz III, the head of the LTFRB, has been steadfast regarding the timeline and stringent requirements for new jeepneys to eventually replace the conventional ones.
In advance of the deadline for the complete completion of the PUV modernization program, the LTFRB board will convene today to conduct its final discussion.
