BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Operators of traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJ) here are seeking a two-year extension to their provisional authority to operate legally.
In a letter/manifesto sent Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez and the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), they also sought the following:
* temporary suspension on apprehensions by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) during the two-year period while they are renewing their application; and
* for LTFRB to expedite the approval of franchises
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the letter/manifesto was immediately added to the SP’s regular agenda on Wednesday, and the approval of a resolution is now up to the members of the city council.
He further clarified that, aside from the manifesto, there were a lot of legitimate points raised during a transport dialogue on Tuesday that need to be documented prior to sending the arguments to the national government.
Earlier this week, traditional PUJ operators temporarily halted their operations after the Land Transportation Office (LTO) started apprehending PUJs that were operating without franchises or with incomplete documents.
The city government later agreed to a 15-day moratorium, and the LTO temporarily stopped apprehending PUJs and gave way to a dialogue between the traditional PUJ operators, the city government, LTO, and the LTFRB./PN
