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Friday, July 15, 2005
Transport group: Too many jeepneys in Oro
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THE largest transport group in the region said the ratio between jeepneys to that of commuters has reached the ratio of five for every one passenger resulting in drivers driving recklessly to grab as many passengers as they can.
As a result, bank teller Jane Nangcas was run over by a Bugo bound passenger jeepney at the Tiano-Abejuela intersection last Wednesday afternoon.
On Thursday morning, a 12-year-old girl died on the spot after being run over by another passenger jeepney. Doctors at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) declared the still-unidentified female student dead on arrival.
Many believe that such accidents could have been avoided if only jeepney drivers were better disciplined and traffic rules were strictly implemented.
Transportation Federation of Cagayan de Oro (Trafeco) chairman Virgilio Valmoria told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Thursday they have estimated that there is this 5:1 ratio between the number of jeepneys to that of city commuters.
"In Manila, the people line up to ride in the jeepney but here it is the jeepneys that line up and call on the passengers," he said adding "That's why they jockey for passengers. That's based on my own observation," he added.
Undisciplined
But Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 10 regional director Mandangan Darimbang debunked such claims of a 5:1 ratio of jeepneys to city commuters.
He said it would be so unbelievable as this would mean a daily loss for PUJ operators and drivers.
"Everyday would be a loss because no one would ride in them," he said.
Besides, Darimbang said LTRFRB-10 has been withholding the issuance of franchises in the region since 2003.
He said those new jeepneys plying around the city streets have old franchises or that old franchise holders have sold their franchises to these new operators or drivers. "Naa man kita'y (We had a) moratorium since 2003," he said.
Valmoria said the accident last Wednesday could have been avoided if the motorela were not also going fast.
He said this even as he admitted that indeed there are some jeepney drivers who are not disciplined.
"There are drivers who are real headaches especially those with no groups or associations that are monitoring them...especially in Bugo since there are other members in the other side that are strikers," he said.
Overtake
Darimbang said motorela and jeepneys should be given different routes. He said this as motorelas are classified as "slow-moving" while jeepneys are "fast-moving."
"They are not the same that's why they should not go together to avoid accidents," he said.
Meanwhile, the 12-year-old girl who died in the latest jeepney accident is said to be from Barangay Gango, Libona in Bukidnon province and is a student of Indahag Elementary School this city.
The 54-year-old driver who rode the Kili-og route jeepney that caused the accident is named Diosdado B. Nacua, of Kinawe, Libona Bukidnon.
Senior Police Officer 3 Heracleo Babanto of the Cogon police precinct said they learned of the accident after Nacua surrendered to them.
In an interview Nacua, said he was headed towards Cagayan de Oro and upon reaching Barangay Gango at 5:30 p.m. the victim was about to board another jeepney when the accident happened.
As Nacua tried to overtake the jeepney the child changed her mind and was struck by his jeepney. Nacua said he tried to apply the brakes but the vehicle collided with the girl who got run over by it.
The conductor picked up the girl and rushed her to the NMMC while Nacua reported the incident to the Cogon police precinct. The police learned later that the child died not long after. (With a report from Sun.Star Superbalita)
(July 15, 2005 issue)
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