Cebu City still won’t allow entry of Mandaue jeepneys

Mandaue City’s traditional public utility jeepney with routes to Cebu City are still not allowed to enter the latter’s jurisdiction. CDN Digital photo | Mary Rose Sagarino

MANDAUE City, Philippines – Traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ) in Mandaue City with Mandaue-Cebu City routes are still not allowed to return to their usual route.

Mandaue City Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, chairman of the Committee on Transportation said he already talked with Cebu City Councilor James Cuenco chairman of the city’s Jeepney Task Torce regarding Mandaue City’s request to allow their traditional jeeps to enter Cebu City.

Lumapas however said that he was told by Cuenco that granting his request would be a bit difficult at this time because of the spike in COVID-19 cases in both cities.

On January 20, 2021, Lumapas’ resolution requesting the Cebu City government to allow the entry and passage of traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ) was passed by the city council. The request was initiated by the Mandaue City Transport Group.

Mandaue City PUJs have routes to Ayala Mall, Country Mall, and in Manalili, Cebu City.

Cuenco explained that as the chairman of the jeepney task force, he is inclined to grant such request. However, because of the increasing COVID-19 cases, he said this is not the right time to allow the entry.

Cuenco added that a copy of the resolution has been referred to the Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and that they are still waiting for the agency’s response.

He added that the request should be endorsed by the EOC first before Mayor Edgardo Labella would approve it.

Actually, ang bottomline ang safety of everybody not only because of the rise in cases, ang problema man pod gud kami diri sa task force nakamatikod pod og daghan’g violations lately sa health protocols sa mga jeepneys like at night they are no longer following the health protocols even kanang mga modernized jeep kanang Beep ug even kanang Ceres buses daghan mig reports nga na recieved nga magover capacity. Wala nila gifollow ang one seat apart, mao kining request sa Mandaue 50-50 pa ta ani, ” said Cuenco.

Cuenco explained that they have approved the entry of traditional jeeps from Talisay City because its request was made last year at a time when COVID-19 cases in Cebu City have dropped.

The councilor said that if the cases would drop again, maybe there’s a chance that they will allow the entry of Mandaue PUJs into the city.

As of the moment, traditional jeeps with Mandaue-Cebu City routes are only allowed up to the St Joseph Patriarch Parish in Barangay Mabolo.

Anyone who would travel beyond that area will be issued a citation ticket by Cebu City traffic enforcers. /rcg