Mandaue PUJs’ entry to Cebu City pushed

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Council has asked the Cebu City government to allow the entry of passenger utility jeepneys.

The council, in a resolution approved yesterday, requested the city government to allow the entry and passage of traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ) from Mandaue with Ayala Mall, Country Mall and Manalili Street routes.

The resolution sponsored by City Councilor Jimmy Lumpas, who also sits as chairman of the council committee on transportation, said jeepney operators underwent tedious processes just to resume operations.

They were asked to present negative COVID-19 test results and were mandated to secure a TEAM (Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue) clearance from the City of Mandaue.

Their units also went through inspections, which were done by both the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, prior to the grant of a special permit to resume operation.

“After being compliant to the mandate of the LGU and national agencies, comes now the Mandaue Transport Cooperative, chaired by Loreto Gerez, Jr., claiming, among others, that they are apprehended and issued with a citation ticket on the several attempts of entering the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City as part of the route previously undertaken by TPUJs,” the resolution read.

Mandaue Transport Cooperative president Loreto Gerez Jr. thanked the council for acting on the drivers’ request.

“Nagpasalamat mi sa Mandaue City Council nga nitabang gyud sila pagsulbad sa among problema. Nagsakit na gyud among dughan aning dili mi makasulod sa Cebu City unya daku na mi og gasto aron lang gyud mi makabyahi,” he told The FREEMAN.

The cooperative sought the help of the council after some of its members were apprehended and were issued citation tickets by Cebu City traffic enforcers.

Gerez said Mandaue TPUJ drivers only want to resume “smooth operations without the fear of apprehension.”

The cooperative has 220 members—70 operators and 150 drivers— and 102 TPUJ units.

Of the 102 units, only 25 are operating so far.

“Sa 25 ka mga drivers, daghan ang wala na ni byahe kay dakpon man. Mas maayo nga moabot gyud mi sa Cebu City aron pud modako-dako among income. Pila ka buwan ang mga drivers walay income unya karon nga okay na unta mobiyahe, pangdakpon pud,” Gerez said.

Copies of the resolution were forwarded to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, chairman on the committee on transportation, for perusal and approval. — KQD (FREEMAN)