Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop on Tuesday, January 16, asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to present a legal basis of cancelation of jeepney franchises.

Acop earlier maintained that jeepneys’ franchises cannot be canceled or suspended under the Government Appropriations Act of 2022.

“[P]inakita ko sakanila yung provision ng Government Appropriations Act ng 2022 [during hearing], at nakalagay doon na hindi dapat i-cancel o i-suspend ang mga franchises ng mga jeepneys. So, dinirek namin yung Department of Transportation (DOTr) to come up with the legal basis kung ano ang epekto nito sa doon programa ng PUVMP [Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program],” he told DZRH in an interview.

Acop, who also chairs the House Committee on Transportation, said the GAA 2022 has not been amended during the succeeding years.

“Now, if it is a law, ang provisions diyan, ang mag-a-amend lang ay yung susunod na GAA Pero kung titingnan sa 2023 GAA at 2024, hindi naman na-amend ang provision ng batas na 'yon noong 2022 GAA,” he added.

The lawmaker also stated that one of the conditions provided was that DOTr and LTFRB were not allowed to disenfranchise operators who have franchises.

“Doon sa pondo na inallocate na P1.05B, nakalagay doon yung mga conditions na dapat hindi i-cancel o i-suspend yung mga franchises dahil sa kakulangan ng public transportation. Pag-aaralan ng DOTr and hopefully sa second hearing, may isasagot na sila sa amin,” he added.

The lawmaker said the second hearing would be held on January 22 after it was suspended the last time.