THE Department of Transportation - Cordillera Administrative Region has advised members of PISTON Baguio and Benguet to submit their position paper to be reviewed by the central office as early as possible.

DOTr director Atty. Jose Eduardo Natividad said the transport groups should submit their position paper to be reviewed by the agency together with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Natividad said the position paper should contain the stand of the transport groups and must be submitted this week.

“Maganda at pinarating ng mga jeepney associations and operators dito sa office ang kanilang mga hinaing and hopefully ma-consider ang mga ito,” Natividad said.

The director explained to the drivers and operators the phase out is still being studied by the department and no final order has been released by their office.

“Wala pang nailalabas na department order, it is premature kung sasabihing mayroon tayong phase out. I know there is a draft, anything can happen,” Natividad added.

Natividad added the position paper of the local groups will be passed to the central office where it could be given consideration before finalizing any order in phasing out jeeps and clarified the central office is the policy making body and they will follow whatever order is given to them.

In an earlier interview with PISTON Carlito Wayos, about 8,000 jeepney operators and drivers in Baguio and Benguet will be affected if the order will be released any time adding they oppose the phase out and to change to electric jeep which are costly and not feasible due to the terrains in the city.