Longer wait for PUJ return

CEBU, Philippines — It will be a longer wait for commuters in Cebu City for traditional jeepneys to return to the streets.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 said yesterday the city is yet to establish a one-stop-shop where the jeepneys will be assessed for roadworthiness and compliance to health and safety protocols.

No traditional jeepneys are allowed to travel without LTFRB’s special permit to operate, which can be issued only after inspection.

“Dili pa gyud na makabalik ang traditional jeepneys sa Cebu City kay wala pa man naka-set-up og one-stop-shop. Unya karon, istrikto na pud ang border controls sa Cebu City. Naa pud mga drivers nga gipang swab test nga positive sa COVID-19,” said LTFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto.

(The traditional jeepneys can return to Cebu City just yet because the city is yet to establish a one-stop-shop. Border controls are stricter again this time, and several drivers have tested positive for COVID-19 following a swab test.)

Earlier, the Cebu City government announced it will allow 1,355 traditional jeepneys to operate again once they obtain a special permit from LTFRB.

Its neighbor, Talisay City, has already put up a one-stop-shop albeit 11 of its PUJ drivers have tested positive for COVID-19.

Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City are scheduled to put up a one-stop-shop on November 17 and November 19, respectively.

“Ang Cebu City, wala pay schedule kanus-a magbutang og one-stop-shop,” Montealto said Monday.

(Cebu City has not identified a schedule for the opening of a one-stop-shop.)

He said the joint task force that is studying the return of traditional jeepneys in Cebu City is set to discuss the matter.

Montealto said that with more and more business establishments reopening, more public utility vehicles will have to be fielded, eventually, to accommodate commuters, especially that the buses that are operating in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Talisay, will have to return to Cebu Province.

“Kaning nga buses nga nagdagan sa tri-cities, mobalik man ni sila operate ngadto sa Cebu Province so magkinahanglan gyud ta og additional mode of transportation,” Montealto said.

(These buses operating in the tri-cities will return to Cebu Province to we will really need additional mode of transportation.)

 At present, 172 Ceres buses are ferrying passengers in the tri-cities and in Talisay City, but their operation was disrupted recently as drivers were made to undergo a seminar and drug test following successive road accidents. — JMO (FREEMAN)