THE Cebu provincial and city police have started apprehending drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV)—air-conditioned buses, minibuses, modern jeepneys, vans for hire and taxis—who failed to follow public health protocols designed to slow down the spread of Covid-19.
At 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) implemented Executive Order (EO) 35-B issued by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, which mandates PUV drivers to provide proper ventilation, implement the policy against overloading and follow the minimum health protocols.
EO 35-B, issued last Aug. 5, mandates that only non-air-conditioned buses, minibuses, utility vehicle expresses, taxis and public utility jeeps are allowed to operate at a reduced capacity of 75 percent within Cebu Province for the duration of the general community quarantine with heightened restrictions status that will end on Aug. 15.
For air-conditioned PUVs to qualify, their air conditioning systems must be turned off and the windows must be opened.
The PUVs must also be regularly disinfected.
Bus and minibus drivers are required to obtain the provincial public utility vehicle pass, which bears the license plate, control number, permitted seating capacity, QR code, and signatures of the governor and provincial administrator.
The passes must be visible in the buses and minibuses.
Buses and minibuses that exit the north and south bus terminals must be issued a trip receipt, which reflects a QR code, license plate, date of trip, trip route, control number, maximum seating capacity, actual number of passengers onboard and dispatcher’s signature.
Random checkpoints
Garcia said the CPPO and the Highway Patrol Group 7 personnel will conduct random checkpoints in strategic areas to inspect PUVs.
CPPO Director Col. Engelbert Soriano said there are 25 stationary checkpoints and 25 mobile checkpoints for PUV inspections.
Soriano said he had talked to the bus managers and operators; he advised them to follow the guidelines because a 75 percent seating capacity is favorable to them.
During inspection, if a bus driver fails to show the pass and trip receipt given at the terminal, the bus would be considered as a colorum. The operator would be held liable to pay P1 million in fines.
Garcia said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulator Board (LTFRB) 7 and Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 agreed with her move.
During inspection, if a bus exceeds the 75 percent seating capacity, the last passengers who boarded would be forced to disembark. The PUV operators, said Garcia, should provide another vehicle to transport the affected passengers.
Soriano said they can issue a temporary operator’s permit to violators or refer them to either the LTO 7 or the LTFRB 7.
Cebu City’s actions
In Cebu City, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will start its full-scale efforts to apprehend drivers of buses and other PUVs who fail to follow the protocols set by the City for the modified enhanced community quarantine.
In the past two days, CCPO Director Josefino Ligan said 131 PUV drivers were apprehended for various protocol violations.
Some of the rules that PUV drivers must follow is the opening of all windows and doors for proper ventilation and avoidance of overloading.
CCPO Deputy Director for Operation Wilbert Parilla said they will refer the drivers who violate protocols to the LTFRB 7 and the LTO 7.
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Government will deploy 18 buses to provide free rides in 14 routes in the city.
City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, committee on transportation chairman, said the free bus rides will start on Monday, Aug. 9.
Cuenco said the free bus ride will be implemented for the duration of the MECQ, which is scheduled to end after Aug. 15. (MVE, AYB, JJL)