Head of LTFRB: Transportation Modernization Program includes strengthening of legal institutions and public transportation

In article written by Ira Panganiban, a netizen and former franchise operator of a public utility vehicle, in Inquirer Bandera, he shared how upon securing a franchise of a PUV he had to pay an amount of 400,000 pesos to a fixer only to find out that the Land and Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board (LTFRB) did not actually charge that ridiculous amount. 

It was also stated that LTFRB’s  Public Transportation Modernisation Program aimed to solve the said problem through strengthening the legal structures of various forms of public transportation vehicles, and improving the route of public transportation through the Route Rationalisation Program.

According to Panganiban, when he was  about to secure a franchise for his two vehicles, he was advised that he should do it through a process because he would allegedly undergo extraneous bureaucratic and government process that would waste his time and money.

He was aided by a contact of his friend in the process of him securing his franchise. His contact, which turned out to be a fixer, helped him talk to someone who previously owned a franchise, to buy that instead.

According to the fixer, that was the faster and easier way of securing a franchise. It was then that Panganiban paid P400,000 for both his Urvans.

It was after Panganiban talked to LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III and Board Member Atty. Aileen Lizada that he found out that he was not supposed to pay in order to get a franchise. In fact, the only payment needed is documentation and processing fees that would set him back only 570 pesos.

“Kamakalawa ay nasa LTFRB ako at kausap ko ang dalawang opisyal nito, sina LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III at si Board Member Atty. Aileen Lizada. Dito ko nalaman ang isang masakit ng katotohanan na “walang bayad ang prankisa ng public utility transport,” Panganiban said.

“Actually meron din pala, mga P570 para sa mga documentation and processing fees. Pero maliban dito, walang bayad ang prangkisa. Sabi ni Delgra, ito ay dahil ang prangkisa ay isang pribilehiyo na may kaakibat na resposibilidad. Hindi ito karapatan dahil ang sagutin mo rito ay ang kaligtasan ng iyong pasahero,” he added.

He was informed that it was only recently that the LTFRB employes this system in order to regulate the traffic that has plagued Manila for years.

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Source: Bandera