The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has agreed to a two-week ceasefire on the arrest of Public Utility Vehicles in Bacolod City without franchises for failure to join the PUV Modernization Program of the national government, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran announced on Tuesday, November 8.
The LTFRB, on the intervention of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, agreed to the ceasefire, Familiaran said.
However, PUV operators without franchises and business permits must agree to join cooperatives or corporations to become part of the PUV Modernization Program, he said.
Familiaran said during the two week period they need to submit deeds of undertakings and the requirements to join the program so they can be issued provincial authorities to continue to operate, he said.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will resume apprehending colorum PUVs when the two week ceasefire ends, Familiaran said.
There is nothing we can do about it because the PUV Modernization Program is covered by a national law, he pointed out.
The PUVs without franchises are being given a chance to legalize, it they still refuse to comply they will have to operate at their own risk, LTO Bacolod head Renato Novero said.
The LTO began enforcing the LTFRB directive to arrest PUVs without franchises and provisional authorities on Monday, which resulted in a lack of public transportation in some parts of Bacolod.
Jeepneys without franchises and permits stayed off the streets to avoid being arrested.
The city officials, after a dialog with representatives of transport groups at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday morning, relayed their concerns to the mayor.
The representatives of the transport groups, who called for a ceasefire, said if they cannot operate their families will go hungry.
The mayor, who tested positive for COVID -19 on Monday, is in self-isolation and working from home.
Sentrong Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Negros (SSTONE) chairman, Albert Villanueva, said the PUVs without franchises immediately resumed operations Tuesday afternoon.
“We will see what solutions they are offering,” Villanueva said.
He said they will submit their position papers to the mayor whom they hope to meet next week.*