The chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is dissuading poor people from investing in the public transportation industry.

Alberto Suansing, chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), made the appeal to the public as he observed that some operators could not meet the demands of the business.

“This business is not for the poor. It’s not like a ‘sari-sari’ store na kaunting pera lang na kapital ay okay ka na.

Suansing said some operators could hardly keep up with the demands of the industry.

“Kapag nagka-aksidente, tatakbuhan na lang. Kung may penalty, nakikiusap,” Suansing lamented.
The chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is dissuading poor people from investing in the public transportation industry.
“They cannot keep up with the demands of the industry and of the passengers. I insist that they should look for other business. Hindi talaga sila puwede sa ganitong negosyo,” the LTFRB chief said.

Filipinos, Suansing observed, look at the transportation business as an industry that could easily make money as long as they can produce a vehicle and get a franchise from the LTFRB.

He noted that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families usually use their savings from working abroad to invest in the transport business.

Those who could not get a franchise even operate illegally as he noted that most of the “colorum” public utility vehicles (PUVs) that traffic enforcers have apprehended are owned by OFWs or their kin.

“I call this ‘psychic income.’ They thought they made money, but actually they did not, lalo na kung nahuhuli dahil colorum,” Suansing said.

LTFRB’s new thrust is evident in the requirements for fleet taxi franchising, which entails a minimum of 20 units.

“Interested investors must have a show money of P4 million, plus the usual requirement of citizenship, garage, and current year model for all units proposed for operation,” the LTFRB said in its rules for the application to operate a taxi fleet.

The LTFRB said there is a need for more than 6,000 taxi units to address the increasing demand for such PUVs particularly in Metro Manila.