The city government has secured the commitment of the various public utility jeepney (PUJ) trunklines to extend their servicing time until 9:30 p.m.
On orders of Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a meeting with officers of the different jeepney associations was conducted Dec. 22 by the Baguio Traffic and Transport Technical Working Group (TTTWG) to address the long queues of commuters commonly observed in terminals especially at night.
Among the complaints received from passengers were that the number of PUJ units allowed to operate cannot cope with the volume of commuters and that some trunklines had limited their service to until 7 or 8 p.m. resulting in long queues.
The mayor asked the TTTWG to engage the groups and make the necessary adjustments citing the need for the transport sector to be more responsive to the needs of the commuters especially as the city had eased up quarantine restrictions and allowed more sectors to go out.
Engr. Januario Borillo, chief of the Traffic and Transport Management Division of the City Engineering Office, said it was agreed that all PUJ units of trunklines can now operate daily except Aurora Hill and Trancoville which had been allotted 100 units each to service the commuters.
He said the capacity limit for passengers had been increased to 70 percent subject to installation of the required plastic barrier as per Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board Memorandum Circular 2020-061.
“This will at least increase their earning and serve the commuters better. Other lines like Trancoville are also ready to service other areas in case they are needed,” Borillo said.
As per the latest transportation guidelines, PUJs had been allowed to operate until midnight to align with the readjusted curfew time in the city.
Apart from expanding their service time, the different jeepney associations also committed to ensure observance of social distancing and other health and safety protocols against the Covid-19.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Baguio City Police Office and the Public Order and Safety Division. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
