LTFRB asked to revoke franchises of erring buses

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government has asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 to revoke and cancel the "Certificate of Public Convenience" of 21 bus and minibus operators whose units ply southern Cebu routes and use the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), due to alleged repeated violations.

In response, LTFRB-7 scheduled a Dec. 7 hearing to discuss the violations, which include illegal parking and loading and unloading of passengers in front instead of inside the terminal.

LTFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto, Jr. told The FREEMAN that they need to hear the complaint and the operators' response before imposing any penalty, which should range from a 30-day suspension to revocation of franchise.

The operators, though, already wrote a Nov. 22 consolidated letter of apology to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia that states that they recognized that the violations are tantamount to disrespect towards the policies of CSBT and Province of Cebu.

The operators said they apologized to the CSBT management and the Capitol for the disrespectful and offensive actions of their drivers.

They further said that they "will not evade the weight of this violation and will take full responsibility" because they are fully aware and must abide with the policies of Cebu Province, particularly of CSBT.

"Furthermore, the operators will now take an active part and will exert additional measures in monitoring their drivers and conductors, including their personnel stationed at the CSBT, to accurately convey that the policies of the CSBT must be strictly and faithfully adhered to. To prevent any more commission of violations of the CSBT policies, the operators will impose more sanctions towards their erring employees,” read part of the operators' letter.

The operators also begged that that the CSBT management and the Province of Cebu would accord them a "final chance to take corrective measures and let this be a learning experience for them."

June this year, and with a CCTV footage as evidence, Garcia called out the bus and minibus operators whose buses because their drivers pick up and unload passengers outside CSBT, "gravely inconveniencing the riding public as well as placing the life of passengers at risk."

The governor reportedly threatened the operators that the Capitol would ask for LTFRB to cancel the operators' franchises.

In response, the operators pleaded with the governor and with LTFRB not to impose penalties, promising to cooperate and change their "erring ways."

The violations, however, persisted, culminating with the death of Department of Education employee who died while trying to catch a ride in the middle of the road outside CSBT last Oct. 17. — /RHM (FREEMAN)