Milestone in Public Transport: Majority of Ilocos Region's Jeepney Operators Embrace Consolidation
An official from the regional Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Ilocos Region revealed on Wednesday that approximately 75.56 percent of public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators in the region have successfully consolidated into cooperatives or corporations. Lawyer Mark Anthony Espenilla, the representative from LTFRB Ilocos regional office, shared this information during a forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Ilocos Region.
According to Espenilla, the compliant stakeholders now number 4,609 out of the total 6,100 operators, showcasing a high acceptance rate for the consolidation program in the region. He noted that this figure does not include those who submitted their consolidation applications on December 30 and 31, 2023, as these were weekends and declared holidays.
Various reasons were cited for the non-compliance of other PUJ operators, including business decisions, internal conflicts within cooperatives (such as disagreements over membership fees), and operators' desire to maintain control over their individual incomes. While some operators expressed concerns about the high cost of modernized jeepneys, Espenilla emphasized the availability of financing aids for cooperatives.
To address the impact on PUV drivers affected by non-consolidation, the Office of the Transport Cooperative committed to prioritizing their employment. The overall goal of the PUV modernization program is to elevate the public transport system in the country, making it more dignified, humane, and aligned with global standards. The program also aims to provide Filipinos with a more comfortable life through a safer, efficient, reliable, convenient, affordable, climate-friendly, and environmentally sustainable transportation system
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