By Rose de la Cruz
To demonstrate its sincerity with its modernization program for public utility vehicles (PUVs), the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board was asked to allow the modernized PUVs to operate starting this summer, if only to serve as an example to those still operating old jeepneys.
The proposal was raised by Rep. Carlos Ramon Uybarreta of 1-CARE partylist and vice chair of energy committee of the House, as summer is the mostly timely period to “break in” new units and for the riding public to familiarize with them so that by the start of the next school year in June or August, they already know what to do.
This summer can be the period for the new PUV companies and cooperatives to hire competent, diligent, and courteous drivers
The LTFRB should now start issuing new certificates of public convenience (CPC) and provisional authority to the new jeepneys.
Let the riding public choose between the old, dilapidated PUVs and the new units. Let the consumers decide what is best for them.
Allowing market forces to determine outcomes sooner rather than later is the non-combative way of resolving the situation.
