Illegal Parking: PUVs parked along roads (First of Two Parts)

CEBU, Philippines - The illegal parking of vehicles - particularly overnight parking in the interior roads of barangays - has become the cause of many problems. Aside from annoying some people, illegally parked vehicles also contribute to tragedy, especially during fires, since these block responding fire trucks from reaching the fire scene.

There are many people who own vehicles but do not have a garage. This is the reason why these vehicle owners are forced to park their cars along the road or at the sidewalks. The parking of vehicles along the road is prohibited, but there is no specific law that requires private vehicle owners to have a garage for their vehicles.

It is a different story, however, when it comes to public utility vehicles (PUVs).           

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) already issued several memorandum circulars requiring the operators of PUVs like passenger jeepneys, taxis, van-for-hires and cargo trucks to have their own garage for their units. But despite the memorandums by the LTFRB, many PUV operators still failed to comply with the requirement.

LTFRB's Memorandum Circular 2011-012 provides guidelines for PUV operators to secure a garage for their units, otherwise they shall be subjected to disciplinary sanctions or penalties.

The memorandum circular, issued by then LTFRB Chairman Jaime D. Jacob, required PUV operators to present a proof of ownership or right of possession of a garage for at least five years. It also provides that the total parking area must be equivalent to 35 square meters per unit for buses, 20 to 25 square meters per unit for passenger jeepneys and 15 square meters per unit for taxis.

During the application for a franchise at the LTFRB, the operators are required to submit a photograph or a sketch of their garage, but the LTFRB officials will no longer conduct an actual inspection of the garage.

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said he only has 17 personnel, which is why his office does not have a team that will ensure that PUV operators comply with the provisions of the law.

 "Wala g'yud ko'y mga personnel nga makahimo og inspection kon tinuod ba nga ang franchise applicants dunay garahe alang sa ilang mga sakyanan mao nga nagsalig ra g'yud tawon mi sa local traffic enforcers ug sa tabang sa local government units," Cuizon explained.

The circular also tasked the LTFRB regional directors to conduct inspections of the garage of all public utility vehicles within their territorial jurisdictions at least once a year and to submit an annual report to the board.

Cuizon, however, said they are only prioritizing the inspection of the garage of fleets because "inspecting all garages of taxis and PUJs is not possible."

The circular also provides that those PUV operators whose garages are found to be non-compliant to the guidelines shall be subjected to disciplinary sanctions. "Franchises of units which cannot be accommodated in the garage shall be cancelled," the order reads.

LTFRB-7 records show that as of December 2012 the regional office has issued franchises to 2,143 buses that are operating in different places in Central Visayas; 12,611 passenger jeepneys; 5,161 taxi units; 1,829 vans for hire; 485 tourist transports; 10 shuttle transports; 5,595 multicabs; 339 school transport and 3,186 trucks for hire. This brings the total number of public utility vehicles in the region to 31,386.

When this writer visited several barangays in the city at 3 o'clock in the morning Wednesday last week, several PUVs were seen parked along the road.

There were PUVs parked along the national road, across the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Barangay Lahug, as well as in Sitio Maracas, also in Lahug. A PUJ was seen parked along the road in Regla Street in Barangay Mabolo, and a public utility van was seen parked near the LTFRB office at the North Reclamation Area. A cargo truck and two vans were also parked near the Tejero Barangay Hall. Two other PUJs were also parked along Bonifacio Street at P4:30 a.m.

Even a city-owned Kaoshiung bus (SCP-944) was parked overnight in a "No Parking Area" in front of the Parian Drop-In Center along Sikatuna Street. Another PUJ was also seen parked along P. Del Rosario Extension at 5 .am.   

A mayor of a town in southern Cebu maintains a garage for his fleet of PUJs along V. Rama Avenue, but three of his jeepneys were seen parked along the road because these can no longer be accommodated inside the garage.

 "Puno na kaayo sir, dili na masulod," said one of the two persons guarding the units.

When personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), assisted by CITOM enforcers, conducted an operation against illegal parking along Katipunan Street and V. Rama Avenue last Wednesday, over 20 vehicles were apprehended.

CITOM's executive officer Rafael Christopher Yap explained that he wants to intensify the drive against vehicles that are parked overnight along the roads, but he is not sure if his request for two tow trucks will be granted by City Hall officials.

Why is this happening despite the LTFRB requirement of a garage for PUVs? The usual practice of some PUV operators is that they prepare a garage for their units while they apply for franchise at the LTFRB, but when the application is already approved these operators will convert their garage to commercial areas.

To check on the garage of a franchise applicant, this writer asked for a sample applicant from the LTFRB and then visited the garage of the franchise applicant Barangay Mabolo last Monday. There, this writer saw that the area that is supposed to be the garage cannot accommodate all the PUJs of the concerned applicant.  (To be continued…) — /QSB (FREEMAN)