DOTC official meets drivers, operators

CEBU, Philippines - Top officials of transportation agencies along with several drivers and operators joined the Cebu City Transport Sector and Stakeholders Dialogue yesterday discussing, among others, local transport policies and the impact of the Bus Rapid Transit system.

Land Transportation Office chairman and DOTC Asec. Virginia Torres yesterday admitted the existence of controversies such as national transportation policies that runs in with local laws and regulations but prefers to resolve these through dialog.

Sponsored by Abante Barangay headed by former DOTC Usec Aristotle Batuhan and the IBP Cebu Chapter, the dialog was organized to provide a venue for discussing and resolving controversies like travel lines, fees, and the Bus Rapid Transit project.

“Mas maganda ang pinag-uusapan,” said LTO chief Torres when asked about conflicts between policies of the LTO and Land Transportation, Franchising, Regulatory Board on one hand and the Cebu City government on the other.

The construction of the BRT system, in particular, will start by October 2013 and finish in 2015. The BRT route will stretch along the Natalio Bacalso Highway from Barangay Bulacao to the downtown area, pass through Osmeña Blvd. towards the Provincial Capitol, turns along Escario St. to the Ayala Business Park, and proceed to Barangay Talamban.

The dialogue is part of the consultation process conducted by the Abante Barangay Movement to be able to address concerns of the local transport sector, said Batuhan, who has expressed his intent to run for the south district congressional seat.

“A modern transport system should go hand-in-hand with a program to address the district’s digital divide and promote the emergence of new local ICT businesses. My vision for the district’s economic growth goes beyond call centers,” Batuhan said.

The Cebu Transport Sector, which is a network of drivers and driver-operators in Cebu City, also signed a covenant with Batuhan for the advancement of their welfare.

The covenant stated that they will seriously look into the proposals to establish a Board of Safety in the transport sector and Board of Transportation that will encompass and consolidate various transport offices into one body.  (FREEMAN)