Monday, March 19, 2007
Jeepney operators lose case v. Citom, LTFRB
FOR lack of interest on the part of the plaintiff, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Generosa Labra dismissed the case filed in 1999 by a transport operators and drivers’ group over an ordinance that regulates jeepney routes and operations in Cebu City.
In an order issued Feb. 8, Judge Labra explained that records of the case show the plaintiff did not indicate any interest to prosecute their petition to declare Ordinance 1320 null.
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The Cebu Confederation of Transport Operators and Drivers Inc. had filed the case against the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
But Judge Labra pointed out that the plaintiff failed to comply with the court’s order, issued in October 2005, for them to submit counter-affidavits and other documents.
The defendants, on the other hand, submitted their affidavits and other documents in support of their motion for summary judgment.
Ordinance 1320, the ordinance that regulates public utility jeepneys in Cebu City, was approved in 1989. It specifies route descriptions with corresponding route numbers for jeepneys.
It also imposes a penalty of imprisonment of two to six months, or a fine of P200 to P400, for any violation.
The transport group went to court after Citom enforcers apprehended jeepney drivers, particularly for going beyond their described routes. LTO operatives, on the other hand, confiscated drivers’ licenses and issued temporary operators’ permits for violations of the transport operator’s franchise, such as the travel line.
“Apparently, there is a conflict between the travel line indicated in the franchises of these PUJ units and that of the route description as provided for by the Cebu City Police Office Traffic Group,” the petition read.
There were routes the LTFRB had approved that were not included in City Ordinance 1320.
The situation arose in 1993 after LTFRB, which was supposed to just determine the point of origin and destination when issuing franchises, specified the travel lines, which Citom had suggested.
Citom, at that time, opened Colon St. to one-way traffic only, causing route changes without any amendments to Ordinance 1320.
When Colon St. was reopened to two-way traffic in April last year, one discovery was that there were routes not covered by Ordinance 1320, and there were also routes not being served by any jeepney operators. (KNT)
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