According to Alberto Suansing, senior consultant for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the plan to phase out traditional jeepneys will continue as planned.
In an interview with The Chiefs on One News, “It’s true that there is a plan to phase out traditional jeepneys and they knew it will come because since 2017 we have been talking with the jeepney operators and their leaders.”
He added, “Before the COVID-19 situation, they were given until June 30 to consolidate their franchises and start forming a legal entity like a cooperative. The LTFRB will issue one franchise for them. We told them if they can’t consolidate their franchise, then they lose the chance of being given another franchise to operate in that route.”
Suansing said that jeepneys still have a chance to operate as the deadline for them to form a legal entity has been extended until December.
Jeepneys, along with other forms of public transportation, were not allowed to operate during the enhanced community quarantine. They will be allowed to run starting June 22, but only if higher capacity vehicles would not be enough. Even then, only modernized jeepneys will be prioritized.
In 2015, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) introduced a jeepney modernization program. The program aims to put in new and safer jeepneys while phasing out the old ones. It hopes to promote passenger safety and minimize pollution. Last October, DOTr required drivers and operators to purchase modernized jeepneys worth 1 million to P2.2 million each with P800,000 coming from government subsidy. However, it was later revealed that the program has no allocation from the proposed budget for 2020, amounting to P4.1 trillion.
The following month, the department announced that old jeepneys will be allowed to run if they pass the motor vehicle inspection system (MVIS) or the road worthiness test.
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