MANILA -- Jeepney operators who failed to consolidate in December last year will be given due process, according to an official of the Office of Transport Cooperative (OTC) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

“Yung ginagawa po ngayon, ‘yung pagpapasada ng mga drivers, ng mga operators na hindi nag-consolidate–this is a process po dahil bibigyan po (ng) due process po ‘yung ating mga kasamahan,” OTC chairman Jesus Ortega said in an interview.

Ortega said that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will release a memorandum that would identify which routes with certain jeepney consolidation rate will continue its operations.

He added that those who operate in routes with less than 60 percent consolidation will still be allowed to ply their routes.

“Dahil ‘pag lumabas na po ‘yung memo from LTFRB, ‘yung mga operators po sa lugar na more than 60 percent, hindi na po sila pwede bumiyahe and then ‘yun po namang mga less than 60 percent, papayagan pa po silang bumiyahe at a certain period po,” he said.

Ortega also said that consolidated jeepney operators will be given special permits by LTFRB to operate in the affected routes.

He said that it was the operations who set the consolidation deadline, including their decision whether to continue their transportation business or venture into another business.

“Yung consolidation na dineadline po natin, this basically is a decision po ng mga operators po natin. Sila po ‘yung may hawak ng prangkisa, sila ‘yung mag-dedecide, itutuloy pa ba nila o hindi or baka mamaya, they’ll go into another business na lang,” Ortega said.

Ortega disclosed that his office is now focusing on how to provide immediate assistance to affected jeepney drivers. (PND)