BAGUIO CITY – The City Council urged the Cordillera office of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB-CAR) to fastrack the processing of the special permits of some 516 public jeepney utility jeepneys (PUJs) recommended by the city government to temporarily ply some 58 rationalized routes in the city to provide transportation to authorized persons outside residence (APOR) and workers in essential establishments allowed to operate under the prevailing general community quarantine (GCQ).
The council came out with the request during Wednesday’s special session after learning that more than 300 out of the recommended number of jeepneys had been issued the required special permits.
Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan pointed out that APORs and workers in essential sectors had been complaining on the alleged insufficient number of jeepneys for their transportation requirements thus it is incumbent upon the LTFRB to fastrack the issuance of the special permits to ensure the availability of public transportation during the GCQ and even the modified GCQ.
Earlier, the Baguio Transport and Traffic Technical Working Group (BTTTWG) recommended that some 515 jeepneys that will ply some 58 rationalized routes in the different parts of the city will be issued the required special permits to operate during the GCQ.
Of the said number of jeepneys recommended by the city government, more than 300 jeepney units have already been issued special permits while some 421 units have been recommended for road worthiness test to be conducted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the Cordillera.
However, the LTFRB-CAR official claimed there are some 7 routes in the city that have been recommended for issuance of special permits but no jeepney operator filed the online application for the issuance of the same.
The routes with no applicants include Atok Trail, Greenwater village, Happy Hallow, Happy Hallow Purok 1, Leonila Hill, Military Cutoff, Irisan Purok 8 to 28 and Pinsao Proper.
According to her, the LTFRB-CAR will be compelled to allow other jeepney lines that are nearest the vacant routes so that there will be available public transportation that will serve the needs of the APORS and workers in the essential sectors.
Under the guidelines for the issuance of special permit for jeepneys, operators must submit the official receipt and certificate of registration of the unit, the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) issued by the LTFRB and the certificate of road worthiness issued by the LTO.
She asserted that the guidelines that were issued governing the issuance of special permits will be applicable during the GCQ and even if the status of the city will be downloaded to modified GCQ by June 1, 2020 and that the same will only be lifted once the country will go back to the new normal situation with strict observance of physical distancing and limited capacity.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
