A DAVAO City councilor lauded the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Davao for taking action on the city's request to suspend the prohibition on riding at the back of a pick-up truck or any pick-up type vehicles.
LTO-Davao Director Gomer Dy made the announcement on Tuesday, October 29, via an interview over dxAB 1296 kHz, saying the office suspended the agency's policy issued last September 18 that strictly prohibits the operation of motor vehicles exceeding the registered passenger capacity and passengers occupying the space of the vehicle intended for cargo and freight.
Dy said the suspension was made after Councilor Conrado Baluran, chairperson of the committee on transportation and communications, filed a resolution, which was unanimously voted by the 19th City Council last October 20, reviewing the said order.
Baluran said in his privilege speech that the LTO order had caused confusion and anger among motorists.
He also said the directive was implemented without any prior consultation.
In a separate interview, the councilor said he thanked Dy for taking action of the City Council's request.
"Nagpasalamat ko sa iya nga iyang gipaminaw ug gitagaan og action ang request sa City Council sa among hangyo nga i-hold in abeyance while we are seeking for amendment sa amoang hangyo nga instead of prohibiting the passengers of the pickup, ang amo gihangyo sa ila nga iregulate kay daghan ta rason ngano ang tao gapalit og pickup [vehicles] (I wish to thank him (Dy) for listening and taking action to the request of the City Council to hold in abeyance while we are seeking for amendment in our request to instead of prohibiting the passengers of the pickup, why not regulate it since there are several factors as to why people are owning pickup vehicles)," Baluran said.
He said the suspension would benefit many Dabawenyos, since most motorists, especially farmers from the second and third districts, are using the vehicle in transporting their products in the city.
"The said mandate is too conclusive for vehicle owners to bear especially to those who own a farm lot and living on mountainous parts of the second and third districts of Davao City where open cabs are the most practical and accessible mode of transportation within reach to transport their products in the city," Baluran said.
The councilor said the mandate, which was enforced Sections 32 and 51 of Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, is already obsolete.
He also said the P2,000 to P3,000 fine and a possible suspension of their Certificate of Public Convenience is too stiff.
Meanwhile, he said he will not be filing a measure seeking exemption from the LTO directive.
SunStar Davao tried contacting LTO for details of the suspension but it has not responded to text messages as of Thursday evening, October 31.