'Modern jeepney' not yet approved

LTFRB-6 slams Unetco, Yellowdot transport for premature launch

LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-6 Director Richard Osmena slammed the United Negros Transport Cooperative (Unetco) with its partner Yellowdot Transport Inc. for launching its modern jeepneys in Bacolod City without complying its requirement from LTFRB.

Osmena said Unetco with its partner Yellowdot Transport Inc. should consolidate all their members

and routes first then they should apply at LTFRB for dropping and substitution for modernization jeepneys.

“They should drop their old units and will change it to modern jeepneys. As of now, they have not consolidated and applied for dropping which means they are not allowed yet to use their jeepneys on the road for lack of documents,” he said.

On Friday, Unetco with its partner Yellowdot launched its Euro 4 public utility vehicles (PUVS) at the Bacolod Government Center in Bacolod “You are only giving false hope to the people. You should consolidate first and apply for dropping and substitution then, you launch,” Osmena stressed.

Marcelo Ochia, chairperson of Unetco, earlier said that there are already 25 units of Euro 4 PUVS ready for operation in Bacolod City and that about a thousand more units are coming.

He said they are just waiting for the route coordination and franchise from the LTFRB to start operation in six major routes in Bacolod City, like Punta Taytay, Fortune Towne and Regent Pearl.

Osmena explained that Unetco and its partner Yellowdot have existing routes, but they have to apply for re-dropping.

“They should follow the process so they can operate,” Osmena said.

He said he already warned the cooperative that since they don’t have proper documents, the LTFRB will apprehend them for operating as colorum.

Osmena also asked the cooperation of the public to inform them if there’s an operation of these modern jeepneys in Bacolod.*