PROPOSED LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTE

THE members of a transport sector in the province of Pangasinan fear possible loss of work and livelihood if a plan to pursue a new local public transport route plan is adopted by the provincial government.

The plan seeks to limit number of vehicles to operate in certain routes.

Bernard Tuliao, president of Alliance of United Transport Organization Provincewide (Autopro)- Pangasinan, said the plan is being developed by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) in accordance to a memorandum circular released by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), in 2017.

Autopro and other transport groups are opposing the plan as they were not consulted.

“Tinutulan namin yon kasi di naman kami nilapitan ni konsultasyon wala”, said Tuliao.

On Wednesday, March 2, another online meeting was held by LTFRB, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Pangasinan Provincial Office, and the PPDO, along with representatives from various transportation groups in the province but excluded Autopro.

The second meeting resulted in the identification of areas that no longer be part of jeepney routes while new local routes will be identified, and some routes with high number of PUJs will be reduced.

For example, the route Calasiao-Dagupan, according to Tuliao, has 400 units of jeepneys operating. But under the proposed draft, the number will be limited to 200.

Autopro wants to raise it to 300 and Tuliao is hopeful it will be granted.

But things are worse for the Sta. Barbara – Dagupan route, where 300 units are currently operating, but only 87 units will be allowed if the draft is implemented.

“Many will lose their livelihood if that is implemented,” Tuliao said and expressed fears that the plan will already be implemented next month.

However, Tuliao said LTFRB assured them that drivers who will be displaced will be given assistance, through their Tsuper Scholar, and other livelihood programs.

The day of reckoning for jeepney drivers is soon coming, as the LTFRB is pushing for the full implementation of its Transport Modernization Program.

Meanwhile, Tuliao said the implementation of the proposed local route plan still faces some obstacles because the Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Development Bank of the Philippines still need to approve loan applications for drivers and operators to purchase modernized jeepney units.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan will have to approve the DOTr /LTFRB plan before it can be implemented. (Ahikam Pasion

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