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LTO eyes standard driving school rates

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• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Transportation Asst. Secretary Jose Arturo Tugade (3rd from left), with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven  Pastor, Rep. Greg Gasataya, and LTO6 regional director Eric Lenard Tabaldo, at the blessing and inauguration rites of new LTO Bacolod District Office in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City.* GPB photo

The Land Transportation Office has created a committee to study and come up with a “reasonable and standard rate,” for those wanting to learn how to drive, disclosed Transportation Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo Tugade yesterday.

This was in response to numerous complaints received by LTO on the charging of “excessive fees” by private driving schools, which is a prerequisite in securing driver’s licenses.

Tugade, who attended the blessing and inauguration of the new LTO Bacolod District Office in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, on a one-hectare site and building provided by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, said that they will come up a solution by the end of March, this year.

The objective is to come up with a reasonable standard rate, which we hope to apply nationwide, Tugade said.

Meanwhile, Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor, who joined Tugade in the inauguration rites, yesterday clarified that traditional jeepney units will not be immediately phased out on July 1, as long as they have consolidated into cooperatives.

Pastor disclosed that LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2023-13 gives PUV operators until June 30 to consolidate, either through a cooperative or a corporation. The deadline has already been extended for the fourth time, as part of the government’s PUV modernization program.

After June 30, only those who are part of the consolidated entity will be allowed to have their franchises extended until December 31.

This is in line with the transportation department’s Order No. 2017-011, or Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, issued on June 19, 2017, which stipulates that only corporations or cooperatives with at least 15 vehicles will be allowed to apply for franchises covering major routes.

Pastor said he was designated by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to hold a dialogue with various transport groups who are planning a weeklong strike beginning March 6 to contest the impending phase out of traditional jeepneys.

The strike would be held in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), and other regions.

Pastor said LTFRB will issue a supplemental memorandum circular to clarify provisions of MC 13.

“We hope the transport strike next week will not push through,” the DOTr official said, reminding drivers and operators that “public transportation is imbued with public interests.”

“The public should not be made hostage by the strike as it will affect students, workers and those with patients in hospitals,” Pastor stressed.*

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