Transport groups eye court petition vs order

CEBU, Philippines - Several transport groups in Cebu is filing a petition for declaratory relief before the court to seek clarification on the controversial Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 recently implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communication, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Land Transportation Office.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, pre-sident and general manager of the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative (CITRASCO), said he will file the petition today.

“Wa mi ni oppose sa entire joint order, ang among gusto nga ipa-review kanang mga penalties nga sobra ra sad ka daku og unreasonable na kaayo,” said Yu.

Yu said that they also wanted to be clarified on why the operators are included in the punishment for erring drivers. This is aside from the fact that the units will be impounded in case its drivers commit traffic violation.

“Nganong iapil man ang operator sa fault sa driver. Aside ana, ilaha pa gyud i-impound ang unit kung makasala ang driver. We think nga unfair na sad na,” Yu added.

CITRASCO is one of the biggest transport cooperative in Cebu with over 400 jeepneys and 200 taxi units.

Romeo Armamento, vice president for Visayas of the National Confederation of  Transportworkers Union, said their group will also file a separate case in court within the week.

“A series of cases will be filed by various transport groups, which include the bus, minibus, trucker, tourist vans, and van-for-hire,” said Armamento, who is also the president of Mandaue United Drivers Association.

Julieto Flores, president of Cebu South Minibus Operators Association and spokesperson of Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, said that their group will also file another petition for declaratory relief.

Flores, however, clarified that they have nothing against the imposition of P1 million fine for colorum buses but they find other traffic fines to be excessive.

Several transport leaders in Cebu earlier decided to launch a metro-wide transport strike on July 21 and 22 in protest of the joint order.

The controversial administrative order which was implemented starting July 19 contains the revised schedule of fines and penalties for violation of laws, rules and regulations governing land transportation.

The said joint order aims to instill discipline, especially among drivers of public utility vehicles, prevent road accidents, ease the perennial traffic jams, clampdown on unregistered or “colorum” vehicles, among others. (FREEMAN)