Transport groups hit new ID proposal

CEBU, Philippines – The different transport organizations in Cebu City are opposed to the proposed ordinance requiring drivers of public vehicles to display an identification card issued by the Cebu City Transportation Office.

Among the transport groups that are opposed to the proposal are the Alliance of Transport Organization Members Intra-Cebu (Atomic), Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (Citrasco), Visayas United Drivers Transport Services and Multi-Purpose Cooperative (VUDTRASCO), Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON-Cebu), and National Confederation of Transportworkers’ Union (NTCU).

The representatives of the said organizations expressed their opposition to the measure proposed by Councilor Nestor Archival during the public hearing at the City Council on September 30.

The measure, however, was supported by the representative of CCTO. Transport groups’ representatives argued that they already have existing identification cards hanged inside their units.

For Atomic Chairman Rudy Laconza, he described the proposed measure as “repressive and oppressive” since drivers are not employed under CCTO. Laconza said drivers have already Land Transportation Office-issued identification cards and their respective organizations. He stressed that there is no need to have another one.

PISTON-Cebu Danilo Gato, for his part, said displaying identification card is not an issue for as long as the city government would allow the drivers to post their organization issued IDs.

Archival said the measure would give uniform IDs to the drivers.

“Bisan unsa raman gud ang gamiton nga ID sa atong mga drivers. Ang tendency, mag-away ang driver ug ang apprehending officers kay dunay ID sa PTA (Parents-Teachers-Associations), LTO,” he said.

According to Archival, the city government is mandated to discipline the drivers plying in its jurisdiction.

Archival, chairman of the committee on energy, transportation, communications, and other utilities, is proposing to amend section 3 of City Ordinance 1605, known as “Display of plate numbers and name of drivers of public utility vehicles ordinance of the City of Cebu.”

Transport groups were also displeased by the additional provision of the decade-old ordinance which requires the mandatory renewal of the identification cards.

“In the event that a person renews his identification card, he must pay the prescribed fees corresponding to his past traffic violation/s if any, accumulated within the period of six months prior from the date of the expiration,” read the proposed ordinance.

Drivers have one year to use this CCTO-issued ID before it expires.

Laconza said imposing the “six-month period” is “unconstitutional” because the national law is only requiring two months.

Citrasco chairman Ryan Benjamin Yu and NTCU chairman Romel Armamento agreed to Laconza.

“Not only burdensome (to drivers) but also it is in contrary to the law since the law only prescribed two months,” Yu said.

CCTO’s legal aide Rosell Gadumpa said former mayor Tomas Osmeña, through an executive order gave the authority of the CCTO, formerly known as CITOM, to issue IDs.

However, Gadumpa said there are some drivers who fail to follow the executive order, especially after the stint of Osmeña. Gadumpa said drivers could avail the CCTO-issued ID at P80 if the driver has not committed violation.

Transport groups said they will not oppose the display of the identification cards issued by CCTO for as long as it will not have expiration date.

Archival said he will consider the comments and statements of the transport groups in the final deliberation of the proposed measure. —/FPL (FREEMAN)