The new traffic scheme implemented for public utility vehicle (PUV) trips in Cagayan de Oro City has drawn criticism from passengers.

On Tuesday, July 28, the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) began the strict enforcement of the Cagayan de Oro City Traffic Code.

The new scheme, which requires PUVs from the eastern part of the city to end their trips only at Agora Terminal and those from the western part to terminate at Bulua Terminal, drew criticism from passengers.

At the Bulua Terminal, all passengers coming from Misamis Oriental are required to get off at the yellow box area of the terminal and transfer to another PUV or PUJ with a route going toward the city proper.

Several passengers said the policy has caused them additional fare expenses and the inconvenience of having to get off and transfer to another vehicle.

“Mura og ang mga taw karon nasakitan ba kay mahal man kayo palaliton doble unya kita nga walay kita walay income saon na lang pagbudget ani. Nakuratan ko nga dinhi raman taman,” a passenger, Virgilio, said.

“Kapoy kapoy kayo sir kay kaduha pa (musakay) unya samot na og inig gabie kay wala kayo musulod nga jeep diri sa bulua terminal ug mga bao-bao o badja dili na sila musulod diri ang uban, lisod lisod gyud,” another passenger, Selwyn Fabre, added.

Drivers and conductors of modern PUJs serving the Opol town route have also opposed the policy, saying their earnings have significantly decreased.

From around P800 per round trip, they now reportedly earn only P250 to P300, which they said is only enough to cover the fuel costs of their vehicles.

“Hasol gyud kayo sir sa mga pasahero sa amoa kay ang amoang trabaho skeletal na imbes straight straight to karon naa mi duty karon ugma wala unya luoy pud kayo ang pasahero na ataw-ataw,” a conductor, Analyn Lacorda, said.

The concerns have already reached the local government.

DRY RUN PHASE

RTA overseer and Councilor Eric Salcedo said they understand the sentiments of the public and clarified that the implementation is still in the dry run phase.

Salcedo explained that the ordinance has been in place since 2007 but is only being enforced now due to the severe traffic congestion being experienced in the city.

He added that complaints have also been raised by PUV operators with routes within the city, as they claim their income is being affected by the entry of provincial PUVs.

“Unya diha sa Corrales Extension, taas kayo ang linya diha kay mag-parking diha ang mga mini-bus. Diha na nakita sa lugar nato nga one-way ang solution sa traffic diha, ang pag-implement sa Section 120,” Salcedo said.

LTFRB

For its part, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Northern Mindanao (LTFRB-10) said it understands that the measure is part of the implementation of the city’s Local Public Transport Route Plan. The agency also acknowledged the comments and concerns raised by the public.

“Open ta ana sa dayalogo open forum ta ana walay problema ana atong iduol sa inyoha unya ato na iduol sa LGU sa Opisina ni Mayor Uy RTA para maayos na kay basin naa pa’y mahuna-hunaan nga strategy ang LGU ug unsay suhestyon ipatuman para dili maglisod ang mga estudyante labi na,” LTFRB-10 Director, ALjo Bendijo, said.

“(Ginahisgutan nga pwede) mu-drop ka og pasahero sa syudad unya mubalik dayon didto sa Bulua (Terminal) or sa Agora (Terminal). Pero isyuhan sa ni Mayor og Executive Order para naay basis nato kay naa man tay ordinansa man gud,” Salcedo added.