Transport group wants Lantion out of LTFRB

MANILA, Philippines - A group of jeepney drivers and operators on Sunday called on for the ouster of Chairman Thompson Lantion of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) due to his alleged failure to address problems of the public transport sector. The call was made by the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) through its president, Efren de Luna. De Luna said Lantion failed to act immediately on the concerns of the transport sector, particularly the fare petitions that are still pending at his office. “We have been waiting for several months now and still the board was not able to come up with a decision on our fare petition,” De Luna said. Apart from the fare petition, the De Luna also questioned the issuance of special permits to some jeepney operators which allow them to operate in an area outside their assigned line of operation. Reports had it that some operators where able to operate out-of-line legally because of the issuance of permits by the LTFRB. De Luna said this is robbing legitimate vehicles that are legally operating on the said routes. De Luna also questioned to long pending implementation of GT express program which was introduced several years ago to address the illegal operation of Asian Utility Vehicles and vans in the country. The GT express program was originally introduced by former LTFRB chair Ma. Ellena Bautista, which was called AUV express program. It aims to eliminate the operation of illegal AUVs. Under the program all school services, shuttles, garage services, vehicles for hire, air-conditioned jeepneys, trucks for hire, and Filcab are required to convert their franchise to AUV express for a fee of P30,000. AUV Express was later changed to "Point to Point" (P2P) when manufacture of AUVs stopped in the country and change finally to GT express when Lantion took over the agency. De Luna also suspects that the name GT express is being used by Lantion for his political ambition this coming 2010 elections. The transport leader said Lantion had used “GT” in his failed bid for Congressman of the province of Nueva Viscaya in the past. “Huwag niyang gamitin ang programa ng gobyerno para sa kaniyang sariling interes (I hope he will not use government programs for his personal interest),” De Luna said. GT supposedly means “General Tom,” which is how close friends and transport operators call the LTFRB chairman, a retired Police General. - GMANews.TV