MindanaoToday.com | Oro traffic czar: More modern PUVs to reduce need for tricabs
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The availability of additional modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) to service the city’s 78 public routes will slowly reduce the riding public’s dependence on tri-cabs or “bao-baos,” the city’s traffic chief said.
“One of the solutions that we saw in order to slowly reduce, if not eliminate the need for ‘bao-baos’ is the full implementation of the LPTRP in which only the modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) are allowed to ply their routes. The bao-baos proliferated in the city because there are few PUVs traveling at night,” said Engr. Nonito Oclarit, Roads and Traffic Administration chief.
Oclarit responded to a proposal by Councilor James Judith II to amend the city’s Traffic Code in order to allow the bao-baos to pass through the national highways provided these vehicles are used in a private capacity and not as a passenger vehicle.
The proposal was referred anew to the City Council’s public utilities committee for review.
Mayor Rolando Uy told local media in a press briefing that he will defer the issue to the 20th City Council for assessment and resolution.
Uy said the complaints by PUV and taxi operators concerning the continued operation of “bao-baos” cannot be ignored.
Oclarit said the PUVs including passenger jeepneys refused to operate late at night for this reason.
“They (modern PUVs, jeepney and taxi operators) told us during consultations that they refuse to ply the routes late at night because the bao-baos corner most of the passengers. And the ‘bao-bao’ operators (including those from other towns) are only too willing to fetch these passengers),” Oclarit said in Visayan.
Oclarit also said the memorandum circular issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is very clear in prohibiting “bao-baos” or any three-wheeled vehicle from the national highways whether they be used in a private or commercial capacity.
“They can pass through local roads but not national roads,” he said.
While unable to provide data on the number of “bao-baos” operating in the city, Oclarit said these vehicles usually pass through Barangays Bugo, Tablon and Cugman.
He said the fleet management system to be operated by the city’s accredited transport cooperatives under the LPTRP, modern PUVs will be available 24/7 to service routes covered under the route plan.
The city’s LPTRP was approved by the City Council early this year.
“Right now (we have 55 out of the 78 identified routes serviced by PUVs) and we are optimistic that slowly as more operators come in, we will be able to fully service the 78 routes (and eliminate the need) for ‘bao-baos’),” Oclarit said. (Stephen Capillas | City Information Office)
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