Thursday, September 01, 2005
Taximeter calibrators eye suit v. franchising body
By Aurea A. Gerundio
TWO local taximeter calibrators might just file a complaint against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) head office for rejecting its application for accreditation, City Councilor Jesus A. Zozobrado Jr. said Wednesday.
Zozobrado also expressed dismay over the insistence of LTFRB to send in Manila-based calibrators instead of considering the local applicants.
The councilor, chair of the City Council committee on energy and transportation, said he convinced the local taxi meter calibrators from filing a complaint with the Ombudsman after the LTFRB accredited only Manila-based calibrators preferred to settle the conflict between the local calibrators and the LTFRB.
And thus, Zozobrado said he brought the matter to the City Council to be able to come up with a win-win solution of the conflict.
In an effort to include Davao-based calibrators in recalibrating taxi meters here, the council passed on August 23 a resolution requesting LTFRB chairperson Ma. Elena Bautista to speed up action on the motion for reconsideration of the application for accreditation as taximeter calibrators by Davao-based calibrators.
LTFRB 11 Director Abdulgafar A. Mohammad even sent the letter himself to chairman Bautista.
Zozobrado said the LTFRB encouraged the disapproved local calibrators to file an appeal.
However, Zozobrado added, the local calibrators are no longer interested to file an appeal to the LTFRB for lack of time already.
"Para ano pa raw na mag-aapela sila eh wala na rin silang i-recalibrate na taxi meters 'pag accredited na sila. They might file a complaint with the Ombudsman," Zozobrado said.
LTFRB administrative officer Edgar Violan said it is now up to the local taximeter calibrators if they will file a motion for reconsideration to the LTFRB.
He said the LTFRB will also respect the plan of the local calibrators to file a complaint against them to the office of the Ombudsman.
Based on the LTFRB's resolution No. 5, copy of which was furnished to Sun.Star, the board denied the application of local calibrators after the latter file authorities to calibrate beyond the prescribed deadline on February 23.
"After careful and thorough deliberation of the Interim Authorization Panel on August 22 for accreditation of calibrators for taxi meter calibration in Davao City, it (the LTFRB) recommended for the denial of the applications," the decision stated.
The firms denied authority to calibrate in Davao City include Nissan Cagayan de Oro/Nissan Specialist Sale Corp., Richcare Enterprises and Global Automotive Technologies of Davao.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 1, 2005 issue)
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