DOTr's Tugade says 13-yr PUV franchise moratorium to be lifted this month

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Saturday said the 13-year old moratorium on the issuance of franchise to public utility vehicles will be lifted this month.

“By June 19, we will sign the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG)," Tugade said during the Third National Congress for the Transport Cooperative Sector in Santiago City, Isabela.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the OFG will provide rules and strategies for issuing public transportation franchises to improve public land transport.

“Kapag napirmahan na ang Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, maili-lift na ang moratorium sa mga prangkisa,” Tugade noted.

In November 17, 2003, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2003-028 which declares the “nationwide moratorium on the acceptance of new applications and petitions for the issuance of a certificate of public convenience except trucks-for-hire service.”

With the said memorandum, the LTFRB refrained from granting new franchises for public utility jeepneys, taxis, FX, and buses.

During the transport congress, Tugade also announced that the DOTr was studying the online license application for those who have no traffic violation.

"Pinag-aaralan namin na sa hinaharap, kung wala kang violation, online na lang ang application ng lisensya," he said.

Tugade also bared major transportation updates to the leaders and members of nationwide transport cooperatives during the transport congress.

Among the updates he revealed was the plan to modernize the Cauayan Airport in Isabela.

“By 2018, your airport—the Cauayan Airport—will be expanded, enhanced, and improved to have night-landing capabilities," the Transportation chief said.

He also gave updates on the status of various rail projects.

“Iyong Bicol Express - Manila to Bicol Railways - ay tatapusin sa termino ng ating Pangulo,” he said.

Tugade also announced that Duterte and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will sign an agreement for the construction of the Manila subway system in November.

“Yung train from Tutuban-Clark, dati usap-usapan lang 'yan. Sa termino ni Pangulong Duterte, gagawin ‘yang katotohanan,” he said.

Also present in the event were Land Transportation Chief (LTO) Edgar Galvante, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III and Board Member Aileen Lizada, DOTr Undersecretaries Artemio U. Tuazon, Jr. and Manuel Antonio Tamayo, and officials from the DOTr-Office for Transport Cooperative (OTC). —John Ted Cordero/ALG, GMA News