City Council turns down NADSU request for help

The City Council has rejected the request of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo officials to help them convince the City Traffic Operations Management to release the impounded eight public utility jeepneys from Mandaue City.

Council committee on laws chairman Edgardo Labella said since the issue on the legality of CITOM's action has been the subject of a court litigation, it is still improper for them to make a move on its request otherwise "we violate the rule of subjudice."

NADSU leader Antonio Pogado earlier wrote a letter to the City Council asking for help for the release of the impounded PUJs, claiming that the apprehensions were illegal.

The Mandaue City PUJs were apprehended and impounded by the CITOM for violating City Ordinance 2072, which prohibits PUJs from outside Cebu City from plying the city streets.

But Pogado claimed that the ordinance violated a national law and some directives issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

A memorandum circular of the DILG clarified that local government units have no power to alter or change the travel routes that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board had granted to public utility vehicles.

The DILG Memorandum Circular 2002-173 issued by then Secretary Jose Lina on October 18, 2002 supports the LTFRB's stand that the Cebu City government cannot prevent PUJs from Mandaue City from plying the streets of Cebu City under their routes.

The operators of the impounded PUJs find it hard to reclaim their units because of the huge pending fines, ranging from P100,000 to P300,000, for each unit.

The ordinance provides that PUVs from outside the city are only allowed to load and unload passengers at any City Hall-accredited terminals.

Despite CITOM's claim that the city government has the power to regulate PUVs that would enter the city streets, some PUJ operators in Mandaue City sued the city before the court.

Of all vehicles from outside Cebu City, only the Mandaue City PUJs continue to ply the city streets, passing through General Maxilom Avenue and Osmeña Boulevard. - Rene U. Borromeo