Drivers told to wear work uniforms anew

Traffic enforcers in Cebu City will revive effective today the campaign against drivers of public utility vehicles who are not wearing the prescribed uniforms while driving their vehicles.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board regional director Rogelio "Jingjing" Osmeña complained about jeepney drivers and taxi drivers not wearing their prescribed uniforms.

Osmeña, who presided the meeting of the City Traffic Operations Management Board last Wednesday, instructed Citom executive officer Arnel Tancinco to implement the directive of the LTFRB that was issued several years ago.

He observed that many of the drivers of public utility vehicles are no longer complying with the directive of the LTFRB requiring them to wear uniforms while manning their vehicles. Osmeña said these drivers should be apprehended and slapped with fines.

The LTFRB directive provides that those who will be apprehended for the first time will be slapped with a P300 fine and P500 for the second, if they will be arrested a third time their driver's license will be recommended for suspension.

While manning their respective units, passenger jeepney drivers are required to wear light blue polo shirt or light blue T-shirts with collars, while taxi and bus drivers are required to wear white polo or white T-shirt with collars.

It was observed that some of the jeepney drivers even wear improper clothing like sleeveless shirts and slippers while driving.

Osmeña said the public utility worker also have a responsibility to their passengers, stressing that they should wear the prescribed uniforms or shirts with collars, pants and closed shoes to earn the riding public's respect.

Some traffic enforcers observed that some of the PUJ drivers are also not properly wearing their uniforms.

"Kanang uban nga ang pikas ra nga bukton sa ilang uniporme ang isul-ob, maayo na nga apilon gihapon pagdakop," a traffic enforcer said.

When the LTFRB issued the directive more than five years ago requiring the drivers of public utility vehicles to wear uniforms, the traffic authorities properly implemented this.

But later, the traffic authorities became lax in implementing the LTFRB's directive. - Rene U. Borromeo