The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday again urge jeepney drivers and operators to consolidate before the 30 April deadline set by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. lapses.
“Again, I have to reiterate, the deadline lpases on 30 April. We need to consolidate because that is the first part of the modernization program,” LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said in a mix of Filipino and English.
According to the LTFRB chief, the end-April extension given by Malacanang was the last and final concession given the 600,000 strong army of public utility drivers.
“So we are asking the jeepney operators to now avail of the last extension because come 30 April, we will no longer allow those who have not consolidated to ply the routes of Metro Manila,” he said.
Guadiz stressed the franchises of those who fail to meet the consolidation deadline will be revoked and the LTFRB will then prohibit them from serving the various Metro Manila routes.
“We will revoke those franchises, and we will only be allowing those who have consolidated to ply the routes of Metro Manila,” he reiterated for the nth time.
In January this year, President Marcos extended the consolidation deadline for public utility vehicles until 30 April 2024.
The three-month extension gave those who expressed the intention to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off the opportunity to complete them.
It is hoped those who did will make good on their avowed commitment.
