Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Body to implement traffic rules pushed By Rimaliza Opiña
TRANSPORTATION Regional Director Federico Mandapat Jr. is pushing for the creation of an ad hoc committee, which would coordinate the proper enforcement of traffic laws, rules, and regulations.
The proposal, which was already brought to the attention of Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., came after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Region 1 approved certificates of public convenience (CPCs) to 223 garage to terminal (GT) vans with Baguio as their destination.
These CPCs were issued based on Memorandum 2007-14 last April by LTFRB Chairman Thompson Lantin.
These CPCs include 15 units each for the routes Pozorrubio-Baguio, Manaoag-Baguio and Binalonan-Baguio. The Dagupan to Baguio route were issued 63 CPCs, Candon-Baguio with 32, Rosario-Baguio with 45 and Carmen-Baguio with 38.
Mandapat, however, said the LTFRB in Cordillera has neither prior knowledge nor a hand in the approval of the GT express vans.
The increase in the number of public utility vehicles in Cordillera despite a 1996 moratorium was said to be because applications for CPCs are granted at the LTFRB counterpart in Regions 1 and 3.
As a remedy, Mandapat asked the mayor to form an ad hoc committee composed of representatives from the City Government, Baguio police, and transportation department to ensure that traffic regulations within the city are strictly enforced.
No administrative order was issued to this effect but the mayor assured that Mandapat's suggestion is now being worked out with the Public Order and Safety Division as members.
At the City Council, Councilor Richard Cariño earlier filed a proposed resolution that opposes the legalization of colorum vans-for-hire through the GT program of the LTFRB.
He also asked the City Legal Office to file a formal opposition to all franchise applications for legalization and conversion on routes touching or entering Baguio, which is filed with the LTFRB in Region 1.
Cariño said this is a patent violation of the moratorium.
