Transport groups to monitor drivers; Piston to hold rallies
Regional LTFRB Director Ahmed Cuizon (right) and Regional LTO-7 Director Arnel Tancinco (second from right) with Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City’s north distict dialogue with transport groups at White Gold House. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
After 13 transport group committed not to join tomorrow’s strike, another transport group said they will confine their protest to rallies.
Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) said the Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston-Cebu) assured him they will limit their protest to rallies and their transport pahulay (holiday) will be limited to half day.
The transport groups also assured that they will monitor their members on the field to see if they are plying their routes.
“I invited (Piston-Cebu) coordinator Greg Perez to submit a list of specific concerns and suggestions on Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01 to my office on Monday but Perez said he is leaving it to his national organization to make such a move,” Cuizon said.
In yesterday’s dialogue at White Gold House, the transport groups also agreed to transmit their concerns on JAO 2014-01 to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for resolution.
The transport groups aired their concerns over JAO 2014-01 that imposes stiffer penalties on operators of colorum or illegal public utility vehicles (PUVs) and erring drivers.
“We were given orders that we have no right to assess and edit your concerns. So all of them will be originally submitted to the DOTC immediately,” Acting Regional Director Arnel Tancinco of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) told the groups.
The dialogue was ordered by Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya after a meeting with transport groups last Friday.
Violations
Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City’s north district helped organize the activity.
The dialogue ended with two transport group leaders reiterating their commitment not to have their members join the nationwide strike tomorrow.
“No more strike. Actually we will conduct monitoring on Monday so that we can really assure that all of our drivers are working,” said Ryan Yu, chairman of Cebu Integrated Transport Services Cooperative Inc. (Citrasco).
Among the concerns raised by Yu were fines imposed on violations committed by drivers that ranged from P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 and impounding of unit/s for the second offense and P15,000 and cancellation of certificate of public convenience for the third and final offense.
These violations consist of operating outside of the approved route of area without prior permit from the LTFRB or outside the exceptions; refusal to render service to a passenger; failure to provide fare discount to those entitled; No sign board; Picking and dropping of passengers outside terminals; and trip cutting.
Other violations of drivers include overcharging; no presentation of franchise ‘Certificate of Public Convenience’ during apprehension; failure to display fare matrix; carrying of illegal and or prohibited cargoes; and reckless, insolent, discourteous, or arrogant behavior.
Full operations
Operators of colorum vehicles will be penalized with revocation of all certificates of public convenience (CPC) of their entire fleet for the first offense.
Penalties for second, third and fourth violations consist of disqualification of the operator to operate any kind of public transportation, blacklisting of all authorized units and revocation of the registration of the operator’s entire fleet respectively.
“That is why we (transport leaders) have agreed to go on field and check on Monday to assure the full operations,” Yu said.
Rudy Laconza, president of the Alliance of Transportation Organization Member Intra Cebu (ATOMIC) told Cuizon and Tancinco to reach out to Piston-Cebu.
In a text message sent to Cebu Daily News, Cuizon said Piston-Cebu promised that they will limit their protest to rallies.
Del Mar said he was happy about the dialogue and said there’s no need for transport groups to paralyze public transportation with their strike.
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