15 TPUJs pass inspection, set to resume operations

ONLY 15 traditional public utility jeepney (TPUJ) units passed the inspection at the one-stop shop set up in the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex on Dec. 10 to 11, 2020.

These 15 units will be allowed to resume operations in Mandaue City, said Hyll Retuya, chief of staff of Councilor Jimmy Lumapas.

Retuya said Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, some TPUJS failed the roadworthiness inspection while the drivers failed to comply with driver’s academy requirements. Lumapas chairs the Mandaue City Council committee on transportation.

On Dec. 10, Retuya said only one passed out of the eight TPUJs inspected by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

On Dec. 11, 14 passed out of the 27 jeepneys inspected.

Retuya said all 15 hold a permit to operate between Mandaue City and Cebu City.

But since Cebu City does not yet allow jeepneys to enter, Retuya said the 15 jeepneys will be restricted to within Mandaue City.

Jeepney drivers allowed to resume operations must carry with them their special permit, QR code, Team (Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue) clearance, and swab test result.

Unlucky applicants

Drivers who did not pass the inspection at the one-stop shop will now have to go to the offices of the agencies concerned to comply with the requirements, said Retuya.

Richard Monera, a jeepney driver of the Liloan-Mandaue route, told SunStar Cebu on Friday that he had hoped to return to Mandaue City because he earns very little in his current route due to stiff competition.

His unit, however, did not pass the inspection as the upholstery needed to be changed. He also did not have a driver’s academy certificate.

Francis Kaamiño, administrative officer of the LTFRB, confirmed that most of the applicants had not attended the driver’s academy, which is one of their requirements.

To help the drivers, Kaamiño said they have relaxed the requirement since the next session at the driver’s academy will be held in January 2021 yet.

Driver’s academy

Drivers need to present only their application form for the driver’s academy in the meantime. The LTFRB staff will contact the drivers when it’s their schedule to attend the driver’s academy.

Kaamiño will also inspect the barriers, the validity of the franchise and the insurance coverage of the jeepney.

Evelyn Tabanao, wife of a jeepney driver, also failed to get a permit as the upholstery also needed to be replaced.

Tabanao was worried over the additional expenses since they still have to pay P12,000 for a pending violation.

Relan Monales, inspector of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Service of the LTO, said the seats in some of the jeepneys they inspected were damaged and needed to be replaced.

He said it would be better to cover the seats with plastic for easier disinfection.

He also noticed that the signal lights on some TPUJs were broken and needed to be repaired to avoid accidents.

Monales urged drivers to paint and renovate their units so these would look like new TPUJs.

Ceres drivers

In Cebu City, the City Council deferred collection of the fines imposed on 60 Ceres bus drivers for various traffic violations.

“We will not be condoning those fines, but we just suspended the collection but on a condition that they will not commit further violations, future violations,” said Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, committee on transportation chairman.

The Council acted on the request of bus operator Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) to waive the fines so the drivers could secure an identification card from the Cebu City Transportation Office.

VTI hired these former TPUJ drivers after the original bus drivers went home to Negros Island. / KFD / JJL

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