LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Dec. 15) — The La Trinidad Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (LTJODA) is skeptical over the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) claim that it has not issued new franchises for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) since the moratorium in 1998 here.

LTFJODA President Miguel Luma-ang cited during the weekly Kapihan sa Benguet two cases involving at least 20 jeepneys that were allegedly granted new franchises by the LTFRB at the Baguio-La Trinidad-Buyagan route alone. He said that there is already a recall order for one of the cases. He stressed that his organization noticed new PUJs plying the said route with new franchises.

Luma-ang further said that the issuance of new franchises is one of the major causes of traffic congestion in the main roads here and in Baguio City.

Buyagan Operators and Drivers Association (BODA) Vice-president Valentin Walang added that the increase in number of PUJs due to the alleged issuance of new franchises by the LTFRB has reduced the income of jeepney drivers and operators.

Walang also mentioned the case of LTFRB granting a franchise to a new line in Sitio Ampasit, Barangay Wangal where there is no road leading to the said sitio but LTFRB granted a franchise for the said line.

According to a local daily, the transport group earlier assailed LTFRB for issuing new franchises.

LTFRB Hearing Officer and Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC)-Regional transportation Adjudication Service (RTAS) Chair Atty. Guillermo Kadatar denied all the allegations of the said transport group. He said that there were no franchises issued since the moratorium but only amendments to old franchises.

However, Kadatar admitted that the only franchise granted for La Trinidad was the Km. 4-Lubas route, which was duly endorsed by the La Trinidad municipal council.

A franchise lasts for five years and may be extended for another five years. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS