3 MIN READ

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Members of different associations and organizations of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) of Baguio City and Benguet under the newly formed Metro-Baguio Transport Alliance (MBTA) occupied the major streets of Baguio in a protest caravan against what they called a legalized form of extortion imposed on the transportation sector.

Irisan Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (IJODA) president and MBTA Head Coordinator Anert Bangsael said that they have nothing against laws and policies that are meant to instill order in the transportation sector. He said that they just do not agree to the system of making them a money-making instrument by imposing excessive fines and penalties which make the life of the small jeepney drivers and operators harder.

He said that the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01 of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportaion Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will not really solve the problem. “Saan da met kuma nga aramaten daytoy a panagdisiplina kadakami a draybers ta bukod ta ammo mi ti madisiplina ket nangina unay daytoy a maipataw kadakami a babassit,” (They should not use this to discipline us because aside from knowing how to be disciplined, this is so expensive an imposition on us small earners) said Bangsael.

Bangsael said that they are staging the protest caravan to register their strong opposition to JAO 2014-01. He said that more than 40 units of Public Utility Jeeps and Vans are mobilized and more than a hundred drivers and operators joined. This he said is in unity with the different transport leaders and organizations who are also staging different forms of protest-actions in the National Capital Region (NCR) against the transport directive.

JAO 2014-01 was issued by the three transport agencies of the government on June 4 and took effect on June 19. Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya in his pronouncement to the media claimed that they saw a need for stronger penalties against illegal practices of PUVs and to protect the public after the series of road accidents.

He also said that the JAO is meant to get rid of ‘colurum’ or unlicensed vehicles.

MBTA Red Trunk Line coordinator and Maria Basa Jeepney Drivers and Operators Association (MBJODA) Marcelo Lagda said that the sprouting of ‘colurum’ vehicles should be blamed not to the drivers and operators but on the LTFRB and the other government agencies in charge of public transport. He said that because of corrupt practices in the agency where they extort money from those who are applying for licenses and franchises, some resort to such illegal ways just to have a source of livelihood for their families.

He also said that the city just like any other places in the country is choked by heavy traffic because of the weakness in regulation of too many vehicles. “Ngem nu pirmi ti traffic, pabasulen da ket dakami a PUV drivers ken operators,” (when the traffic is heavy they blame us PUV drivers and operators) he sighed. Lagda asked, who approved the many applications and franchises but the LTFRB?

Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston) Metro-Baguio President Carlito Wayas said that the public transport sector will never cease to call for the junking of JAO 2014-01.

He said that not only the drivers and operators will be affected by this but their families and the general riding public as well.

He pointed out that this newest directive will be a mere instrument of “kotong” or extortion and other forms of corruption with the blessing of the government.

During the protest caravan, the MBTA members trooped to the Cordillera regional office of the LTFRB and aired their grievances before traversing the streets of the city and converging again at the regional office of DOTC where they held a short program. # nordis.net