Negotiations for an extension to the moratorium on the apprehension of traditional jeepneys without franchises in Bacolod City are being finalized, Pacifico Maghari III said Sunday, November 20.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez took up the proposals of the stakeholders with representatives of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office on Saturday.
There was a request for an extended moratorium to give time for traditional jeepney operators to make preparations for changes under the modernization law, Maghari said, adding that the mayor will make an announcement on the matter.
They are waiting for the final terms, he said.
The 15-day moratorium on apprehensions granted by the LTFRB earlier ends on Tuesday, November 22, Maghari said.
Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino, who was at the meeting Saturday, said it was very productive and they have identified solutions to the problem.
The solutions will be presented to the stakeholders and they will have to decide, Espino said.
“It’s between a rock and a hard place, there are difficult solutions for the stakeholders to decide on,” Espino said.
Espino said the mayor will announce the solutions as he was the one who called Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to discuss the proposals of the stakeholders.*