Traditional jeepneys stop at a pedestrian crossing in Kamuning Road near EDSA in Quezon City on Wednesday (May 15, 2024). Units that did not apply for consolidation under the modernization program will be apprehended starting May 16. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

Will there be chaos on the roads tomorrow?

By Rose de la Cruz

The deadline to remove  unconsolidated jeepneys from the roads takes effect tomorrow (May 16)  and yet drivers and operators of the unconsolidated jeepneys have been waging protests against their phase out with “anti-poor” modern jeepneys and mini buses, that would make them obtain loans of P2.4 million each just to be able to continue plying their routes.

Come weekend or by early next week, must we anticipate chaos on the streets and protests getting more wild and violent? I doubt if the government would allow any violence to happen but I also doubt that the government, especially the President (whose votes came from the downtrodden and the unlettered) would let down his voters, who he wooed so hard to vote for him in 2022. 

A story by GMA Integrated News said some jeepney drivers would continue plying their routes despite an expected crackdown by May 16 against those that refused to consolidate into cooperatives under the PUV Modernization Program. They said they will evade authorities and still hit the road to earn for their families, a humanitarian and livelihood issue now. “We will do it instead of being idle and become hungry,” they told interviewer Bernadette Reyes

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)  has warned that those that did not consolidate after the deadline would be treated as “colorum” and that those found still plying their routes by May 16 would be fined P10,000 while their units would be fined P50,000 and impounded for 30 days.

The LTFRB warned that unconsolidated jeepney drivers found still plying routes starting May 16 would be penalized with a P10,0

“Pwede na kaming mag-flag down bukas, and pwede na po kaming manghuli at mag-ticket po ng mga driver at sasakyan,” said LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III. “Huwag na po bumiyahe ang mga hindi pa po nag-consolidate.” 

The LTFRB  said that all PUV drivers are required to display on their windshields their documents as proof of consolidation. 

But transport group Manibela said that some unconsolidated jeepney drivers have yet to receive show-cause orders. 

“Kung sakali na sasabihin na bibigyan lang muna at makakabiyahe pa kahit bukas…baka naman i-impound nila, gagawin nilang negosyo,” said Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena. 

“Hindi pa tayo dumadaan doon sa sinasabi nating hearing,” he added. “Paano po nila masasabi itong colorum kung pwede naman itong iapela?”

The LTFRB earlier said that traditional jeepneys are still allowed to operate for up to three years as long as they are still roadworthy. 

Started in 2017, the modernization program aims to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution. It also aims to replace units that are not deemed roadworthy by the Land Transportation Office’s standards.

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