Sunday, August 17, 2008 Council ban on smaller vehicles gets stalled
AT least two transport groups said that 30 percent of their units will be affected if the Cebu City Council approves a proposed measure banning public utility vehicles (PUVs) that weigh 1,800 kilos or less from the national roads.
City Councilor Raul Alcoseba said the measure seeks to help reduce the number of vehicles plying primary streets and improve traffic flow in some areas in the city.
But the Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Service Cooperative (Citrasco) and the Visayas United Drivers Transport Cooperative (Vudtrasco) said they will be forced to withdraw at least 30 percent of their units, if the measure is adopted.
This will mean fewer public transport vehicles and more hassles for commuters, they said.
City Councilor Arsenio Pacaña also reminded his colleagues in the council that there are a lot of narrow streets in the city, and that only the small vehicles can navigate through them.
The point of crafting measures is to serve the public, so there is a need to carefully evaluate the proposal, he said.
“Naa sad rabay national roads nga gagmay (There are national roads in the city that are narrow),” added City Councilor Jose Daluz III.
And while he was not really against Alcoseba’s measure, Citrasco’s Clifford Niñal raised some concerns that they wish the council would tackle.
“Unsaon na man namo ang sakyanan, himoong private? Naa pa may existing franchise, tiwason usa o sugod dayon ang implementation (What will we do with the vehicles, limit them to private use? They still have an existing franchise, do we let it expire or we have to comply once the ordinance is approved)?” he said.
Niñal also wondered why multicabs were issued franchises, particularly those plying the Urgello route, when they weigh only about 660 kilograms.
He said that the required gross weight of 1,800 kilograms has long been implemented by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), but the franchises were given before the term of current Director Romulo Bernardes.
Vudtrasco’s Alex Bordadora, on the other hand, said that like Citrasco, his group will likely pull out from the road 30 percent of their units if Alcoseba’s measure is approved.
He said that operators should be briefed on the purpose of the proposal so there will no problems.
City Councilor Edgardo Labella said that while the committee on laws, which he heads, endorsed the measure, Alcoseba was required to consult the stakeholders.
The proposal was also referred to the committee on traffic management and the committee on energy, transportation, communication and other utilities. (RHM)
