Thursday, January 18, 2007 Group has high hopes for new transport regional chief By Rimaliza Opiña
THE incoming regional director of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will have his hands full once he assumes office.
This as the local chapter of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) hoped that the problems besetting the transportation sector could finally be addressed by whoever would be appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the DOTC regional top post.
Former Bureau of Telecommunications (BOT) chief Claver Wacnang and Councilor Federico Mandapat Jr. are among those who would replace DOTC Regional Director Alfredo Mondiguing who is set to retire next week.
Fejodap president Perfecto Itliong Jr. said they would call for a dialogue once a new DOTC regional director is appointed to discuss violations on the moratorium on issuance of new franchises, increase in the number of vans for hire and of unregistered taxi units, and seriousness in the implementation of the Clean Air Act.
Mondiguing, during his stint, was accused of being instrumental to the approval of franchises of jeepney and taxi units without the concurrence from the City Council, which is a violation of a moratorium that prohibits approval of franchises.
But the DOTC official denied the report, saying he had nothing to do with the approval of new franchises.
