Transport group sets discussion with LTO anew

CEBU, Philippines - Various transport leaders are setting aside for the meantime their plan to hold the “Transport Pahulay” or their own version of a transport strike as they will again be having a dialogue with officials of the Land Transportation Office-7 today.

Romeo Armamento, national vice president of the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union, said their dialogue with LTO-7 regional director Arnel Tancinco is a bid to stop the implementation of some of the provisions of the controversial Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.

NCTU-CV is composed of 22 different route leaders mostly from the jeepney sector plying 22 routes in Metro Cebu. The union is now gathering strength as their membership drive within Cebu City routes is ongoing.

Armamento said they will ask LTO-7 to stop apprehending vehicles with defective parts and accessories until the end of the year while the review on JAO is still ongoing.

“Amoa lang ‘sa gipadaplin sa pagkakaron ang among plano nga transport pahulay. Kay lain kaayo paminawon nga sigi mi og hangyo sa LTO, unya mo-strike sad mi sa pikas bahin,” said Armamento.

Tancinco, however, said that while JAO is still under review, they are mandated to implement what are stipulated under it.

JAO 2014-01 took effect last July 9 and was jointly implemented by the LTO, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Department of Transportation and Communication.

The order’s implementation caused uproar among the transport sectors, branding it as “excessive” and “unreasonable.”

DOTC officials are gathering all the complaints and issues raised by various transport groups nationwide before they will come up with the amended version of the controversial order.

The JAO carries the revised schedule of fines and penalties for violation of the laws, rules and regulations governing land transportation.

It aims to instill discipline especially among drivers of public utility vehicles, prevent road accidents, ease the perennial traffic jams, and clamp down on unregistered or “colorum” vehicles, among others. — (FREEMAN)