Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya has scheduled a dialog with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and members of the city’s transport sector on Tuesday, November 18, to address concerns surrounding the ongoing implementation of the Department of Transportation’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
Gasataya met with representatives of the Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD), the Kabacod Negros Transport Coalition (KNETCO), and the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) on Monday to hear their concerns, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
“We want to make things transparent, and we guarantee that everyone will be part of the process in addressing the concerns of the transport sector,” Gasataya told members of traditional jeepney groups gathered at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.
The mayor also expressed his intention to commission a feasibility study to explore financial assistance mechanisms for transport operators who are willing to transition to modernized jeepney units under the national program.
One of the issues raised by traditional jeepney organizations was the inclusion of unconsolidated jeepney units in the evaluation and assessment of the city’s proposed new routes, particularly in determining whether additional modernized units are needed.
“We just want to ensure that we retain our routes. Again, we reiterate our call for jeepney rehabilitation, not phaseout,” said Rudy Catedral, chairman of BACOD.
KNETCO president Lilian Sembrano also attended the meeting and expressed gratitude for the administration’s openness and continued support to their sector, the press release said.*