The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-CAR) Regional Office, called on the jeepney associations to expedite their application for special permits.
Engr. Lalaine Sobremonte, LTFRB-CAR Officer-in-Charge, explained that the special permits issued by their office will prevail over the ones issued by the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Around 516 jeepney units, as identified by the city’s traffic and transportation technical working group, are expected to be granted special permits by the board.
On May 13, LTFRB-CAR posted in their official Facebook account the procedure and requirement in securing a special permit pursuant to LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-017 which applies to all areas under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Requirements include OR/CR, valid Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), and personal passenger accident insurance, and the roadworthiness test conducted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Sobremonte said they had been reaching out to the jeepney associations through text messaging and other means, however, jeepney drivers/operators in certain routes have not signified intent in securing special permits.
During the city council’s special session on May 27, representatives of the transport group bemoaned the “tedious and unnecessary” process of the LTFRB in acquiring a special permit.
Patricio Evangelista, a member of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, claimed the LTFRB’s specifications in the requirements such as the plastic sheets to be used as dividers are “inconsistent” which led to the delay of their application.
Mark Bryan Dacmay, president of the Plaza-Kias-PMA jeepney association, expressed dismay over the delay of their application caused by a number of reasons such as the lack of gadgets for sending the requirements online and the long queues in smoke emission test centers in the city.
Councilors Philian Weygan-Allan and Michael Lawana questioned the addition of the smoke emission test as a requirement in obtaining a special permit. The solons described it as unnecessary since vehicles undergo the test regularly for their registration.
Sobremonte said their office gives assistance to those who are having difficulty processing their application online and urged the applicants to go to their office to be assisted.
Sembrano also assured the transport group that they can use the results of the smoke emission tests when they will have their vehicles registered later on which means a second test will no longer be required.
The city council through a resolution instructed the LTO and the Baguio City Police Office to suspend the apprehension of PUJs with no special permits issued by the LTFRB in order to give ample time to the drivers and operators to comply with the requirements. **Jordan G. Habbiling
