DOTr asks MMDA to suspend no-contact apprehension for PUVs

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has asked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to suspend the no-contact apprehension policy for public utility vehicles (PUVs), in line with the full resumption of face-to-face classes.

According to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Cheloy Garafil, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has already met with the MMDA to discuss the matter.

“Ang ginawa ng ating secretary, he agreed na to coordinate with the MMDA to ask them kung puwedeng wala munang huli for one week sa ating mga PUVs dun sa mga bubuksan na mga ruta natin,” she said in Dano Tingcungco's report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“Ang response niya, sabi niya, ‘Oo nga kasi at least para to familiarize ‘yung mga drivers natin on their reopened routs so sana bigyan sila ng konting leeway at least for one week,” she added.

[Our secretary agreed to coordinate with the MMDA to ask them if they could suspend penalties for a week for PUVs that will ply the reopened routs. He agreed and said this would familiarize the drivers on their reopened routes, and to give them some leeway at least for one week.]

Garafil said the MMDA has agreed to suspend penalizing PUVs without the certificate of public convenience (CPC) for one week. They are also exempted from the number coding scheme.

This comes as the LTFRB is set this week to reopen 133 routes that were stopped amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This covers some 11,000 vehicles including jeepneys, buses, and UV Express.

The reopening of the routes will be in line with the resumption of face-to-face classes on Monday, August 22, 2022.

Transport group Manila (Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Angkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon), however, is asking the LTFRB to waive penalties for vehicles that did not ply their routes in the past two years.

“Kailangan namin iparehistro, kumuha ng confirmation sa LTFRB, ire-rehistro sa LTO. Ito ‘yung mabigat kasi dalawang taon tayong hindi nakabiyahe,” Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said in the same report.

[We need to register and get confirmation from the LTFRB and the LTO. This is quite heavy because we were not able to ply our routes for two years.]

Valbuena said penalties for non-registration with the LTO and the LTFRB are P250 per month, and costs would be at least P20,000 for them to be registered with the agencies.

“Masaya kami na nakabalik kami, pero may kaakibat ito na gastusin. Bawat unit hindi bababa ng P20,000 para makarehistro kami,” he said.

[We are happy that we can return, but this will come at a cost. Every unit will have to shell out at least P20,000 to be able to register.]

For her part, Garafil said the LTFRB has asked the group to submit a position paper on the matter for them to see the number of vehicles who were not able to get confirmation in the past two years.

Garafil said the agency has already waived the penalties for school buses as these were not able to operate during the lockdowns implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News