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Friday, July 23, 2005
Legalize van-for-hire operations, dads urge
By Rimaliza Opiña
THE Baguio City Council committee on public utilities, transportation and traffic legislation recommended the legalization of vans-for-hire operation if only to avoid the alleged giving-in of van operators "to the whims and caprices of unscrupulous law enforcement agents."
The committee said the recommended legalization is to ensure that the operators could avail of passenger insurance policies, similar to those issued to public utility buses and jeepneys.
The committee, composed of Councilors Rocky Thomas Balisong, Elmer Datuin and Rufino Panagan stressed this is to ensure that passengers who patronize garage vans could avail themselves of insurance in case an accident occurs.
The committee added the proposed legalization is also in consideration to the drivers and operators who reportedly purchased certificates of public conveyance (CPCs) without being informed that their operations are illegal as garage vans are supposed to operate only as "vehicles for rent" and are not supposed to charge passengers individually.
The committee added garage vans does not necessarily contribute to traffic buildup as most of the associations have their own loading and unloading areas outside the central business district.
"It is more practical to authorize the legalization of public utility vans rather than to allow them to operate out of line," the committee added.
On April and May this year, the Pines Garage Association, Baguio-Binalonan-San Roque-Carmen Transport Association, Henry Transport, Cabanatuan Express Vans Operators Association, Baguio-Urdaneta-Carmen-Cabanatuan Transport and Millennium Transport asked for the passage of a resolution for them to be exempted from the moratorium in the grant of franchises.
The council, meanwhile, will deliberate on the proposed legalization in its upcoming session.
(July 23, 2005 issue)
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