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After some transport groups declared that they will continue operating routes without consolidation after the April 30 deadline, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Friday, April 12, that jeepney operators must understand that their franchises are privileges granted by the government, not inherent rights.
In an earlier press conference, MANIBELA president Mar Valbuena said that only Congress has the power to revoke their franchises.
“Unang-una po, iyang prangkisang iyan ay hindi ho iyan isang karapatan, iyan ho ay prebilehiyo na binibigay ng estado (First of all, that franchise is not a right, it is a privilege granted by the state),” LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said during a radio interview when asked to comment on such pronouncements.
“Ang estado rin ho or ang gobyerno rin po ang nagsasaad ng paraan kung paano mo po gagamitin iyan. Ang sabi ng estado is dapat kayong mag-consolidate ngayon for an effective fleet management (The state or the government also dictates how you will use it. The state says you should consolidate now for an effective fleet management),” he went on.
According to Guadiz, LTFRB’s impounding areas have been prepared for “colorum” vehicles or those whose franchises have been revoked for not consolidating.
He said the agency has three impounding facilities located in Pampanga, Tarlac, and Quezon City.
The LTFRB chief had earlier urged jeepney operators to avail of the final extension of the consolidation, warning them that their franchises would be revoked if they fail to consolidate.
So far, Guadiz noted that close to 79 percent of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in the country have consolidated.
‘Due process’
Guadiz said “colorum” vehicles will not be immediately apprehended on May 1, saying the LTFRB will issue show cause notices.
“Bibigyan namin sila ng show cause notice kung bakit hindi po sila dapat tanggalan ng prangkisa. After that po, kung hindi po sila makapagbigay ng kanilang sagot or ‘yung sagot po nila ay hindi katanggap-tanggap, pwede na ho namin outright doon tatanggalan ng prangkisa po (We will give them a show cause notice as to why their franchise should not be revoked. After that, if they cannot give their answer or their answer is not acceptable, we can outright cancel the franchise),” he said.
Asked about the agency’s rationale for issuing show cause notices to those who haven’t consolidated, the LTFRB chief explained that it’s a procedural requirement in adherence to the due process of law.
“Sa batas po, bago mo bawiin ang prangkisa ng isang sasakyan or bago mo ito i-impound muna, bigyan mo muna ng show cause (According to the law, before you revoke the franchise of a vehicle or before you impound it, you must first issue a show cause),” said Guadiz.
“Paggalang po ito sa kanila at pagbibigay ng warning muna po ito kaya sana po ay hindi na po kami humantong sa puntong iyan na kailangan pa naming i-impound ‘yung mga sasakyan nila (This is in respect to them and to give them a warning first, so I hope we don’t end up at that point where we have to impound their vehicles).”
Transport strike, LTFRB’s preparations
On Thursday, April 11, transport groups PISTON and MANIBELA said they will stage a nationwide transport strike next week, citing the impending deadline for the consolidation of PUV drivers and operators.
They said it will last for two days and will start on Monday, April 15.
Meanwhile, Guadiz said the LTFRB would adhere to its standard operating procedure by coordinating with relevant government agencies and local government units should the transport strike pushes through.
“Rest assured that vehicles offering free rides will once again be dispatched to assist affected commuters,” he said in an earlier statement.
The agency also urged those participating in the strike not to prevent other jeepney drivers from making a living.
Recently, President Marcos said that there will be no further extension of the franchise consolidation under the PUV modernization program after April 30. — Jel Santos
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
