LTFRB urged to review public transpo moratorium

CEBU – With road accidents cited as the fourth leading cause of death in the country today, Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella is calling on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to reassess the enforcement of a moratorium on the issuance of franchises for public conveyance issued in 2002.

Labella, chairman of the City Council committee on laws, said LTFRB seemed to have loosened the implementation of the moratorium, considering the reported unabated rise of public conveyances nationwide, including in Cebu City.

LTFRB is the lead government agency mandated to oversee the regulation and administration of the issuances of franchise to public transportations.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, LTFRB Regional Director Romulo Bernardes said the regional office has not issued new franchises either for taxis, buses, or public utility jeepneys since he assumed office early this year.

This seems contradictory to the sentiment aired by Richard Cabucos, president of Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association, that the number of taxi units in Metro Cebu has reportedly increased by 2,000 units in barely six years.

There reportedly were only 4,000 taxi units in 2002, as opposed to the more than 6,000 units this year.  

Labella said drivers “under the current glut of public conveyances seem inclined to throw caution into the winds,” as they compete for passengers since majority first have to earn for the rent of their units before they can earn their actual income.

“The said dog-eat-do competition for passengers appears to be a prime motivation for bad driving indicated by the reported lack, if not nil, respect for traffic laws of public utility drivers,” Labella said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)