BACOLOD City – Public utility jeepneys (PUJs) without franchises were told by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to stop operating here starting next week.
Renato Novero, LTO-Bacolod chief, said he met with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Bacolod City Traffic Authority, Bacolod City Police Office and city officials for the resumption of their anti-‘colorum’ campaign.
The agency earlier halted their campaign while waiting for the issuance of provisional authority to traditional jeepneys.
City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said there were about 3,100 registered traditional jeepneys in Bacolod based on the 2019 record of the LTFRB. Currently, nearly 1,600 already have provisional authority.
Novero said they needed to resume their campaign because it would be unfair to other PUJs with provisional authority, and so as “not to jeopardize the commuters.”
A PUJ with no franchise faces a P120,000 fine and another P15,000 penalty for no registration. The vehicle will also be impounded.
The LTO-Bacolod is seeking help from the city government in resuming the anti-‘colorum’ drive.
Novero said they lack logistics and personnel./PN
