LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- All public utility jeepneys (PUJs) must be allowed to resume operations and regain their livelihood, a Benguet official said.
During the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force meeting, Board Member and lawyer, Juan Nazarro, asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Cordillera to allow PUJs to resume operations.
Following the transition to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), some public utility vehicles, including jeepneys, were allowed to operate with reduced passenger capacity in Baguio City and Benguet.
"Not all PUJs are given special permits because of limitation given by the City of Baguio and other concerned agencies, but the problem of others with no permit is that how will they live? They were requesting if there is a permit but with rotation basis. What is happening is that those given permit is only allowed to be back on the road. One solution if possible, we can all give them all permit and give the schedule to avoid all going out the same time," said Nazzaro in local dialect.
The legislator said it is unfair for PUJs not to be given special permits while others are able to be back on the road and earn a living.
"Ti problema tayo gamin okay lang nu aglift by June 15 ngem-agpasalamat tayu nu malift tadta nga year baka until next year. Talaga nga unfair kasano ngay no six months ket ti naikan laeng for example 15 units ti Baguio to Wangal, 60 da amin nga units, 15 lang inikan u idi pay, 15 lang ti mabibiyag. Mabasinan ti daduma nga member," he said.
Nazarro said special permits should be given to all those with franchise while the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) will arrange their schedule to ply during specific days within the week.
During the meeting, LTFRB-Cordillera Director Lalaine Sobremonte admitted it is difficult to conduct rotation on the PUJs considering the total number of units not only in Benguet but also in Baguio, citing the city is also requesting for all of them to be given permits.
There are more than 1,000 PUJ units for Benguet and more than 4,000 in the Summer Capital.
Sobremonte said during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Inter-Agency Task Force of the National Government announced there will be no public utility vehicles allowed, however, during the GCQ, guidelines were issued for PUJs.
Under the LTFRB memorandum circular, PUVs plying the road be based on the route determined by the Department of Transportation or LTFRB. Drivers and passengers must abide by safety and health protocols such as wearing of face mask and there will only be 50 percent capacity.
LTFRB, in coordination with MPDOs of LGUs on May 12, also come up with their rationalized route as the previous routes will not be followed.
The Benguet Provincial Planning and Development Office and La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (LISTT) members were called to make routes in coordination with Baguio City.
Baguio City, she added, is controlling PUVs going to their area and control parking at the staging area at any given time, stating the Baguio Technical Working Group and MPDOs are coordinating on the matter.
PUJs may operate from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Baguio City provided they maintain only 50 percent passenger capacity.
More than 500 PUJs with LTFRB special permits will be allowed to operate, while an additional 258 units was also indorsed to the agency.
PUJs from LISTT areas will maintain their temporary staging areas at Shagem Street, Otek Street, Marcoville, Cooyeesan, and Slaughter House with a limited number of vehicles at any given time.
LTFRB-Cordillera added that as of May 26, at least 81 units are authorized to operate in La Trinidad.
Data obtained from La Trinidad LGU show 186 total number of units with 21 associations.
For Itogon, there were 24 passed routes, with 92 number of units and seven vehicles indorsed; Sablan with six routes and 14 number of units with six vehicles given special permits; Tublay with seven determined applicants; and Tuba has 11 routes with 25 authorized number of units with eight given special permits.
Other routes that applied for special permit and received by LTFRB on Friday include Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Mankayan and Kabayan.
Sobremonte said that based on the guidelines, modernized units should be allowed to operate but for Cordillera, there are no modernize units in the region yet.
Greg Retuta of the Land Transportation Office-Cordillera said the agency will be strict on special permit, stating penalty awaits those violators.
Retuta also called for the cooperation of all concerned offices and stakeholders as LTO is only implementing the order from the national government.
No fare increase Both Officers reiterated the standard minimum fare for jeepneys is P9.
Retuta added in Baguio City, there will no longer be a donation box.
Sobremonte said during the ECQ, some LGUs allowed jeepneys to ply their route during market days. However, complaints reach their office from barangays of drivers collecting fare of P30 to P40. (With a report from Baguio City Public Information Office)