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by Jefferson Antiporda
Reporter
PUBLIC transport operators must
first seek the approval of the Metro
Manila Development Authority (MMDA) before they can be issued a
franchise renewal by the Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
In a resolution approved by
members of the Metro Mayors Council (MMC), the LTFRB was asked to
order all public utility vehicle (PUV) operators to secure first a
clearance from the MMDA before they apply for a new franchise to
operate. The MMC is composed of the mayors of all the cities and
municipalities of Metro Manila, and is the supreme lawmaking body of
the MMDA.
Metro Manila mayors said the high
number of PUVs on the road like jeepneys, vans and buses have
crammed the roads of Metro Manila, resulting in traffic congestion.
This is the reason why the number of PUVs on the street must be
controlled.
“One of the reasons why traffic
congestion is becoming worse is because of the increasing number of
PUVs. That is why we need to organize it [PUV operations],” MMDA
Chairman Bayani Fernando said.
Fernando said that with the new
resolution, the MMDA can now take part in the franchise application
process to ensure that the number of PUVs in a certain route is
controlled, or enough in number.
It was not disclosed to media if
the MMDA will consider the number of traffic violations a PUV
commits when the agency evaluates a franchise renewal application.
The LTFRB is an agency under the
Department of Transportation and Communications that has the
authority to grant franchises to PUVs. Despite the moratorium on the
issuance of franchises, the number of PUVs on the road remains high.
One of the reasons for the high
number of PUVs is the LTFRB’s dropping and substitution policy,
wherein a franchise holder is allowed to continue to use its
franchise as long as it wants, provided that the holder can provide
new units to replace old units.
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