Department of Transportation and Communications regional director Federico Mandapat Jr. is encouraging the public to report erring drivers directly to his office in a bid to professionalize and discipline the public transport sector.
He particularly cited the cases involving taxi drivers who choose passengers or their destinations, as well as drivers who do not observe personal hygiene and sanitation in their vehicles.
“Lahat ng violations kasama yung ayaw maghatid. Yung mga isnaberong tsuper,” Mandapat said. “Pati yung mga nagtatanong ng ‘saan ang punta niyo?’ tapos hihindian ka kapag malayo.”
He added that taxi drivers should also not reset the meter when ferrying passengers to different destinations. “Kung minsan maraming pasahero, tapos ihahatid yung una bago pumunta sa next destination.
Dapat minsan lang ang flag down, kasi umaandar naman ang metro,” he said.
However, he clarified the issue on taxi drivers asking for additional fare for their backload especially when ferrying passengers at night. “Yung mga nanghihingi ng backload, pakiusap na yan sa mga pasahero, especially at night. Naiintindihan naman natin na baka wala na silang pasahero paba-lik sa city. Pero hindi dapat sapilitan ang pag-hingi ng back-load,” the director added.
In the case of jeepneys, Mandapat has time and again iterated the rule on student and senior citizen discounts.
He said smoking as well as the lack of garbage receptacles inside a public utility vehicle can also be reported. Among many other violations include: non display of identification cards, non-wearing of uniforms, the use of slippers, and drivers not observing the proper hygiene which includes sporting long hair.
Mandapat, however, said the violation of jeepney drivers stopping in ‘no loading and unloading zones’ or other chokepoints in the city is not under the DOTC’s jurisdiction but under the police and the local government unit.
He welcomed the proposal of vice mayor Daniel Fariñas asking for an annual seminar for PUV drivers and operators on road courtesy. “Mag-seminar muna ulit. They have to undergo the seminar bago makapag-drive ng PUV. Ganun sana ang setup,” Mandapat said.
Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations in Baguio, Benguet, and La Union president Jonie Itliong said they are also doing their part to professionalize their ranks by holding trainings on the proper handling of passengers. “We want to train our drivers under the DOTC, the police on laws and ordinances, and the Baguio Tourism Council,” he said.
He added that the uniforms for drivers are: blue shirt for jeepneys and white shirt with collar for taxicabs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Tuesdays and Thursdays drivers wear shirts color coded according to their trunkline. “Merong yellow, green, red, and blue depende sa rota nila,” Itliong added.
Mandapat said the public could call tel. numbers 444-9938 or 619-2073 to report violations. He also encouraged complainants to text him directly at 0906-374-5859. |
