Council to ask DOTC to probe issuance of new taxi franchises

CEBU, Philippines - The City Council will ask the Department of Transportation and Communications to investigate the alleged illegal issuance of new franchises by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7.

The decision was arrived at following a meeting of the Metro Taxi Operators Association, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, and the City Council yesterday.

MCTOA alleged that the move of LTFRB 7 is illegal owing to an existing moratorium that limits the number of taxi units operating in Cebu. The moratorium was issued in 2003.

In a petition signed by at least 1450 taxi drivers, MCTOA urged LTFRB Regional Director Romulo Bernardes to stop issuing more taxi franchises because there is reportedly a surplus of taxi units in the province at present.

Councilor Jack Jakosalem said the Council will pass a resolution to formally request DOTC to investigate the allegations. The resolution would also ask LTFRB 7 to comply with a resolution passed by the Land Transportation Office a month ago, which asked LTFRB to no longer issue additional taxi franchises.

“This is actually the specific request of Jing-jing Osmeña to me before he died because he knows that there is something going on at the LTFRB,” Jakosalem said, referring to former Cebu City Councilor Rogelio Osmeña who died last February 9 due to kidney problems. He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be furnished a copy of the resolution.

“We will forward the resolution to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo along with the petition of thousands of affected drivers. At least, she will be aware that such things are happening here,” Jakosalem said.

Jakosalem further said the City Council might ask the LTFRB 7 official to appear in its regular session so they could explain the situation.

Osmeña himself said his cousin mentioned the “problem” to him a week before the latter died, which was why he immediately acted on the matter when MCTOA sought his assistance.

MCTOA said it will be the taxi drivers who will be greatly affected by the situation because they will be against stiffer competition.

“Ang operator, samtang magkompetensya sa pagpadaghan sa ilang taxi, mutaas ang ilahang kita, apan kaming mga driver, kung magkadaghan ang taxi, magkagamay ang among kita,” the petition reads.

“Ang gidaghanon sa mga Taxi nga nag-laroylaroy dinhi sa atong kadalanan sobra ra kaayo kadaghan kung ikompara sa kasamtangang panginahanglan sa mga magsasakay. Puno ug nagpunsisok na ang sakyanan sa kadalanan sa pagkakaron pa lang gani, unsa na kaha kung madungagan pa kani ug puno,” the petition further reads.

Lawyer Jose Lim, legal counsel of MCTOA, said anyone can observe that there are many taxi units that are simply dormant while waiting for passengers at the malls and many others roam around the city empty. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)