LTFRB-6: 2,500 passenger jeepneys to be phased out in Western Visayas

ILOILO CITY – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Region 6 might phase out a little over 2,500 passenger jeepneys across Western Visayas region by the end of the year.

“That’s if the operators fail to beat the December 31 deadline for operators to join a cooperative or corporation,” said Salvador “Jun” Altura, LTFRB-6 legal officer.

OLD jeepneys continue to serve the riding public in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)

As of December 19, the LTFRB-6 listed 2,509 passenger jeepneys that have not consolidated into cooperatives or corporations in line with the country’s Public Utility Vehicle modernization program.

One-thousand, four-hundred thirty-nine are in Bacolod City, followed by Iloilo City with 406, 244 in Negros Occidental, 232 in Iloilo province, 95 in Antique, 52 in Guimaras, 26 in Capiz, and 15 in Aklan province.

Altura said that if jeepney operators fail to consolidate, their provisional franchises would be revoked by January 1.

He warned there may be a jeepney shortage for the riding public in particular routes if this is not addressed.