BEFORE it approves the travel line for the modern public utility vehicles (PUVs), the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) will check first if the PUVs will not add to the traffic congestion in the routes that the buses will ply.
Francisco Ouano, operations chief of CCTO, said it’s important that there is coordination between the operator, Persano Corp., and the Cebu City Government so they can determine what routes in Cebu City are ideal for the coaster-type PUVs.
“Ang atong purpose nganong pahibaw-on ta diri kay aron ma-aware sad ta ba nga oi kana diha dapita di pwede paagian, ngari diri dapita pwede paagian (The purpose of notifying the CCTO is for us to be able to say that PUVs can pass here, and these are the areas where they cannot pass,” he said.
CCTO has yet to receive the proposed routes from Persano Corp., which is subject for approval by the Cebu City Council.
The operator wants to field the first 22 PUVs in two missionary routes. Eighteen more buses will complete the fleet, which is part of the PUV Modernization Program.
The first route will pass by the Cebu City Hall, Robinsons Galleria, Cebu Business Park and Asiatown I.T. Park.
The second route will cover Paseo Arcenas in Barangay Guadalupe, B. Rodriguez St., Fuente Osmeña, Gorordo Ave., Cebu Business Park and Barangay Mabolo.
Ouano urged the operator to work together with the City Government to ensure the PUVs will operate smoothly and to avoid aggravating the traffic problem, especially that the vehicles are bigger than the regular jeepneys and may cause congestion in some parts of the city.
“They can’t just let the vehicles run there without any coordination, more so that heavy traffic is expected these days. That’s why I’m requesting them, please coordinate with the local government on this,” Ouano added.
Even without an approved travel line, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will launch today, Nov. 26, the new PUVs during a program at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu.
DOTr and LTFRB officials from Manila are expected at the launch. (FROM SCG OF SUPERBALITA CEBU)