Group fails to stop transport order

CEBU, Philippines - A regional trial court in Quezon City recently junked the application for temporary restraining order filed by Angat Tsuper Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas - Genuine Organization Inc. (Stop & Go) against the implementation of Department Order No. 2017-011, otherwise known as the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation on June 19.

In a statement, lawyer Reinier Paul Yebra, DOTr undersecretary for legal affairs and procurement, emphasized that the granting of a certificate of public convenience to public utility vehicle operators is not a right, but a mere privilege, subject to police power of the state through the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Yebra said there is no urgency and irreparable injury that will justify issuance of the TRO as the target roll-out and full implementation of the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) is still in 2018 and that LTFRB has not yet issued the necessary memorandum circulars as basis of specific implementation schedules.

When sought for comment, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon called on all sectors, especially transport groups to fully cooperate with the government and move forward in modernizing our transport services.

“After all, we are all serving the same ultimate client which is the general public. Let us therefore put divisiveness behind and unite for the good of our country and people," Cuizon said.

For his part, Ryan Yu, chairman and general manager of CITRASCO, said they have always supported the idea transport modernization.

"I hope we can start with the proper and true implementation of modernizing our public land transportation. The riding public deserves it," Yu said.

Both the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators and the Alyansa ng mga Draybers at Operators Alang sa Reporma welcomed the junking of the TRO as they are for transport modernization.

As a major component of the PUVMP, the OFG introduces reforms in granting of franchises by implementing new rules in planning routes and improving standards for operators and vehicles.

Under the guidelines, local government units will plan public transport routes based on the current travel patterns in their areas.

These routes will be reflected in the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) of LGUs which will serve as basis for the issuance of franchise by the LTFRB.

DOTr added that the release of the OFG has paved the way for the lifting of the moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for the issuance of CPCs, which was in force since 2003.

This forms part of the PUVMP that seeks to provide safer, more comfortable and environmentally sustainable mode of public transport to commuters by upgrading vehicles to meet international safety, energy efficiency and emission standards.

Other proposed specifications of vehicles under the PUVMP include an Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, a GPS navigation system, dashboard cameras, Wi-Fi, and speed limiters. —/JMD (FREEMAN)