PB wary of more taxicabs in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines – The Provincial Board does not support the proposal to add 2,500 taxi units in Cebu.

During its regular session last week, the body passed on mass motion a resolution asking the Department of Transportation and Communication to study the proposal thoroughly and consult the public about it.

Board Member Arleigh Sitoy, the sponsor of the resolution, believes adding this number of units will aggravate the traffic situation, instead. He said the move will be a “major problem that could spell losses” to the province’s economy.

“Local Government Units, including private organizations, are doing everything to address such problem… The idea of introducing more vehicles to our streets will not, at all, help in the province’s traffic congestion problem,” part of the resolution reads.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 will endorse to its central office the request of some mall and hotel operators in Cebu for the additional taxi units to address shortage especially during peak hours and in anticipation of the surge of demand once SM Seaside City and Robinsons Galleria-Cebu open.

A moratorium on the issuance of taxi franchise and other public utility vehicles remains in place since 2002.  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama earlier objected to the request and asked for further study on the matter.

He said he would prefer introducing buses under the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit or the High-Quality Public Transport System rather than additional taxi units.

The PB also expressed support for the introduction of light and mono rail transits in the province.

The body said the LRT and MRT transport systems in nearby countries of Malaysia and Singapore has brought “a dramatic change” in their economy and improved their traffic considering that most people prefer to walk around the city.

“It would be ideal for the Province of Cebu to make use of such transport system to encourage the public to leave their vehicles behind and walk to their destination,” a separate resolution reads.

“The worsening traffic conditions in the Province of Cebu should serve as a wakeup call to everyone that such problem should be immediately addressed before it is too late,” it added. —/JMO (FREEMAN)