CITOM to apprehend jeepneys out of travel lines

CEBU, Philippines – Public Utility Jeepneys that do not follow their designated routes, beware.

Anytime this week, the City Traffic Operations Management will start apprehending jeepneys that will be caught not following their routes after CITOM observed that some streets have started to become congested due to PUJs that disregard their routes.

The reimplementation of City Ordinance 1837 shall primarily prioritize the banning of Mandaue City PUJs and other intra-city jeepneys to enter the main thoroughfares of Cebu City but CITOM also announced that a tight watch will be imposed on inter-city jeepneys that are violating the traffic rules, specifically, the travel lines.

Sylvan "Jack" Jakosalem, CITOM Board chairman, said that CITOM will start discussing the details of the implementation today and they shall take action immediately after everything has been prepared.

Jakosalem first ordered for the review of all the routes as specified by travel lines to make sure that jeepneys are passing the right streets.

Those who will be caught in violation shall be imposed with the appropriate fines and penalties.

But those PUJs that take a different route at night may be considered as long as they do not drive recklessly that may result to an accident.

"Okay na lang as long as they do not drive recklessly we might consider tolerating that but details will really have to be discussed with operations and CITOM Board before fully implementing it," Jakosalem said.

Some jeepneys apparently no longer take their designated routes to cut the trip short and because there are fewer passengers along their original routes at night compared to daytime.

Since CITOM is still preparing for their plan of action, Mandaue City PUJs have a few days' grace period before they will be totally banned from the major streets of Cebu City.

CITOM has to decide on the case of some Mandaue City jeepneys that ply only the small streets of Cebu City and do not cause too much congestion on the road. 

These are the jeepneys that pass the North Reclamation Area to M.J. Cuenco to Manalili and Mabini streets before going back.

C.O. 1837 was passed in the '90s but was not strictly implemented.

The ordinance was reinforced recently due to the road mishap of two Mandaue City Jeepneys that injured 16 people last week.

CITOM has also found out that Mandaue City PUJs have the most number of violations based on their records. These jeepneys are often the subject of complaints by commuters for speeding and stopping in non-designated areas.   (FREEMAN)