Bus operators want status quo; MLC welcomes mass transit

MRTSI legal officer lawyer Joseph Castillo (right), Citrasco Chairman Benjamin Yu and CSMBOA chair Julito Flores (center) during public hearing yesterday. (CDN Photo Michelle Joy L. Padayhag)

Is there a need for new high-quality, less-polluting buses in Metro Cebu?

Bus operators and public utility drivers yesterday joined forces in opposing the grant of a franchise to a fleet of 77 brand-new air-conditioned hybrid buses that would operate from Talisay City to the Mactan Airport in Lapu-Lapu City.

In a public hearing, three transport groups said they doubt existing road and traffic facilities could accommodate the  European-made MyBus units, whose operator wants to ply  four “development routes” that the government said was underserved.

“The public need is being served by the various public transport providers presently servicing the applied route,” said the opposers.

However, a citizens group pushing for a “livable” Cebu voiced support for the mass transit system.

“We wish all the best for Cebu to introduce the first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the country and join other modern cities by finally having a sustainable, safe and leading edge mass transit system,” said Marc Canton, lead convenor of the Movement for a Livable Cebu.

The applicant, Metro Rapid Transit Service Inc. (MRTSI), is seeking a franchise for routes  from the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB)  so that the buses, which will charge P25 to P70 per passenger, can start operating with an initial fleet  by mid-November in time for the opening of SM Seaside City mall in the South Road Properties (SRP).

While the public hearing was going on, a protest rally outside by members of the Cebu Confederation of Transport Operators and Drivers Association Inc.   caused traffic to crawl along J. Briones Street.

Representatives of seven groups objected to the entry of  MyBus units.   They said it would worsen traffic congestion and slowly kill the viablility of other public utility vehicles.

Cebu Integrated Transport Cooperative (Citrasco) chairman Ryan Benjamin Yu questioned the basis for the DOTC’s declaration of four developmental routes for the MyBus “high-quality public transportation system”.

Three groups –  Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association, Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association and National Confederation of Transport Workers Union – presented a joint position paper objecting to the applications of MRTSI.

Other groups opposing the scheme  were the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), Alliance of Transport Organizations Member Intra Cebu City (ATOMIC) and Operators and Drivers of Cebu Southbound Jeepney Association Inc. (Odsecoja).

MYBUS/OCT. 16, 2015: The Mybus passenger vehicles were park in the SM City parking area waiting for the result of the public hearing in LTFRB which drivers and operators oppossed the SM owned MyBus vehicle to operate in the City.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

APPLICATIONS

Metro Rapid Transit, a partnership between Jam Liner, Inc. and SM Prime Holdings, Inc. subsidiary Premier Southern Corp., has filed four applications for a certificate of public convenience to operate the new buses.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) earlier approved four new routes for the buses.

All of them pass through the SRP.  The routes are: Talisay City to Mambaling, Cebu City with 11 buses; Talisay to Mactan Cebu International Airport with 8 buses; Mandaue to Mambaling with 36 buses; and Talisay to Mandaue with 22 units.

“We strongly believe in the merits of our application. It has passed through the review of the DOTC,”  said MRTSI lawyer Joseph Castillo, in an interview.

“The department (DOTC) validated our studies that show  there is a market for buses and public demand for it. There is a strong public demand.”

Several units arrived in time for the APEC meetings last week. Castillo said 20 more units will arrive on November 16.

The units are manufactured by Volvo, Mercedez Benz and Daewoo.

Oppositors cited “adverse effects”  brought on by the competition “to the great number of present holders of Certificates of Public Convenience”.

The joint opposition paper was signed by Julieto Flores, president of CSMBOA; Estrella Yapha, vice president, and Romeo Armamento, vice president for NTCU.

“While modernizing the transport industry is a noble aim, the realization thereof should be counterbalanced with several working factors vis-a-vis the existing public services,” they said.

Rudy Laconza, chairman of ATOMIC, said the entry of MyBus would gradually kill the viability of other transport units, referring to buses and jeepneys.

“Dili man ni makatarungan ug gihinay mi ug patay ani (It’s not fair that we are slowly being driven out of business.),” he said.

Eric Eminido, president of Odsecoja, said prior consultations should have been made before the buses were purchased.

“What will happen to the poor who can’t afford this change? Livelihood will be affected here, he said in  Cebuano.

Greg Perez, PISTON coordinator, said drivers and small operators are aware that their numbers and business are dwindling because of heavier penalties  laid down by DOTC  policies.

The new bus fleet has to fulfill conditions for the issuance of a franchise.

It must have a shelter, stops, poles and stands. There must be designated stops for pick-up and drop-off. Passengers will pay using electronic cards, not cash. Each bus must have 2 CCTV cameras inside, GPS and free Wifi.

A passenger information system must display real time bus schedules, the next bus stop, estimated time left and estimated time of arrival.