Buses soften strike’s blow as operators seek JAO repeal
Yesterday’s transport strike was almost negligible as no commuter was left stranded, an official of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) said.
Rafael Yap, chief of the Citom, said only 20 percent of the city’s routes were affected by the strike that was called by jeepney operators and drivers who trooped to City Hall to attend a City Council public hearing that was called to let them vent their sentiments on City Ordinance 2207 as well as DOTC Joint Administrative Order 24-01.
Ordinance 2207 imposes fines on violations of Cebu City’s Traffic Code while JAO 24-01 also spells out hefty fines and penalties on various road while the transport strike affected mostly those in Cebu City’s south, no one was left stranded in the streets.
Councilor Dave Tumulak said the city government deployed 17 Ceres buses to ply strike-affected routes to augment the 14 city-owned Kaoshiung buses that offered free rides starting at 5:30 a.m.
“We didn’t feel any strike by the drivers because there were a lot of buses that plied the routes,” Tumulak said.
Transport groups protested the implementation of Cebu City Ordinance 2207 imposed traffic fines and served bench warrants for erring drivers and JAO 2014-01 which imposed large fines on colorum vehicles.
Traffic rules
Leaders of transport groups in Cebu City like the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston-Cebu) and Atomic attended the hearing at 8:30 a.m.
Only 30 Piston members wearing blue polo shirts were allowed to occupy a portion of the gallery inside the session hall to avoid over-crowding.
The other drivers watched the proceedings on a TV mounted on a table placed at the legislative building’s ground floor lobby. The drivers later resumed plying their respective routes after 11:30 a.m.
During the hearing, Councilor Gerry Carillo said he wants to review Cebu City Ordinance 2207 and push for a resolution on JAO 2014-01.
“The operators and drivers have the point but it is also a necessity to strictly enforce the rules because of the uncontrolled non-observance of traffic rules,” he said.
Inconvenience
Piston-Cebu coordinator Greg Perez asked the council to scrap the Cebu City Ordinance, saying it is grossly disadvantageous to the drivers.
He also asked the council to file a resolution asking the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to scrap JAO 2014-01. Perez also said it wasn’t their intention to inconvenience the riding public.
“Last June 19 wasn’t a transport strike it was merely a picket rally in front of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) and Citom. The operators merely wanted to ventilate their frustrations as they are victims of excessive fines,” Perez said.
Perez also mentioned that the high fines can lead to corruption.
Rudy Laconza, president of the Alliance of Transportation Organization Member Intra Cebu (Atomic) said there was no consultation with operators and drivers on JAO 2014-01.
Opposed
“The implementation of the JAO affects our livelihood and it’s hard for us to survive because it has affected our income, Laconza said.
Richard Cabucos, president of the Cebu Taxi Operators, echoed Laconza’s argument saying they oppose the ordinance and the JAO 2014-01 because they are protecting their livelihood.
Regional Director Arnel Tancinco of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) said deputized agents are not authorized to impose and collect fines under the JAO.
“The JAO reminds everyone about their responsibility. We are not collecting revenues here,” Tancinco said.
Consultation
Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) said anyone who feels aggrieved by any government rule or issuance “has the right to pursue legal course.”
“Strikes and deliberate stoppage of services are right violative with the terms and condition of every Certificate of Public Convenience,” Cuizon said.
He said contrary to transport group’s claims, there was a consultation on the JAO in Cebu City held last April 10 at Sacred Heart Convention Center.
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