Drivers’ protest fails to cripple public transportation services

CEBU, Philippines - The protest rally of various transport groups yesterday failed to cripple the transport services in Metro Cebu.

Lawyer Rey Gealon, executive director of the Cebu City Transportation Office, said it did not have a major impact on public transportation. Gealon said no passengers were stranded during the protest rally conducted by the members of at least three transport organizations.

“No passenger is left stranded today as the transport [rally] remained uneventful. It wrapped-up around noontime after a few [protesters] marched from LTFRB to LTO. CCTO personnel are spread throughout the roads of the city, especially in the areas where the [protesters] passed by,” said Gealon.

Gealon said the city government prepared contingency measures like possible deployment of Kaohsiung buses had the protest rally affected the transport services in the city. 

Gealon said acting mayor Edgar Labella ordered that Kaohsiung buses be on standby for possible deployment.

“Naay Kaohsiung gi-ready pero gi-pull out ra dayon namo tungod kay wala may na-stranded na pasahero. Gipadagan na lang namo sila sa normal nila nga schedule,” said Joy Tumulak, CCTO operations chief.

In Lapu-Lapu City, two buses and 10 barangay vehicles were deployed by the city government to ensure that no passengers are stranded. The buses were stationed at the jeepney terminal in Barangay Pajo starting at 6 a.m.

“What we did is that as early as six o’clock nagpadala nami og sakyanan sa terminal (gikan) sa barangay and city, “ said Mayor Paz Radaza.

Members of the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union-Central Visayas, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON)-Cebu and the Alliance of Transport Organization Member Inter-Cebu City (ATOMIC) joined the nationwide protest against the memorandum of the Department of Transportation and Communication that sets a 15-year mandatory age limit for public utility jeepney.

 “Ang DOTC maayo kaayo ni mo lipat-lipat. Draft memorandum pa lang ni pero amoa gyud kining pakigbatokan kay wa ni klaro nga konsultasyon sa mga sector labi na sa mga drivers ug operators nga maapektuhan ani,” said Romeo Armamento, vice chairman of NCTU- Central Visayas.

Rudy Lacunza, president of ATOMIC, described the draft memorandum as “anti-poor and anti-drivers”.

Greg Perez, chairman of PISTON-Cebu, said that the transport sector should be consulted before the memorandum is implemented. LTFRB-7 director Rey Elnar has scheduled a dialogue with the transport leaders on Thursday to discuss the issue.

“I will bring all your concerns to the head office,” Elnar assured the protesters yesterday.

Under the draft memorandum, a 15-year mandatory age limit will be implemented effective next year as part of the agency’s initial step of the modernization program.

“All PUJ units shall have a mandatory age limit of 15 years counted from the date of manufacture. The date of first registration with the Land Transportation shall be considered the date of manufacture,” the draft memorandum read.

The memorandum will be implemented by region starting with the National Capital Region in 2016. DOTC said that it is preparing a PUJ modernization program that will enable transformation to a low emission, efficient, reliable and profitable industry.

It added that the components of the modernization program are fleet modernization through low carbon, low emission vehicle technology and imposition of standards to ensure passenger safety and carbon emission level compliance in order to improve ambient air quality and proper fleet management and maintenance.  (FREEMAN)