BAGUIO CITY – The measure prohibiting inter-municipality public utility jeepneys (PUJs) from picking up passengers along existing Baguio City PUJ routes has been upgraded into an ordinance.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan signed Ordinance No. 8 series of 2017 authored by 12 councilors led by Councilor benny Bomogao.
The prohibition was erstwhile contained in Resolution Numbered 115, Series of 2014 which was based on a resolution of the Traffic and Transportation Management Committee prescribing the guidelines on the operation of the PUJs from outside the city.
But the proponents noted that “the tenets of these resolutions… are ignored” thus the need to “fold it and replace it with a more concrete note” in the form of an ordinance.
As per the ordinance, inter-municipality PUJS are those that come or leave from their original route or terminal area in a municipality or city or province and enter another city or province to deliver passengers or baggage to their final point of destination but passing through the route of PUJ franchise holders within the City of Baguio.
The measure imposes a no loading policy so that they will not be allowed to load passengers along routes already covered by PUV-granted franchise by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to operate within the city.
Violators will be meted fines ranging from P1,000 to P3,000.
“Any aggrieved party may initiate or lodge a complaint to the proper court or to the (LTFRB) for proper disposition. Provided, however, that the penalties imposed by the (LTFRB) for violations of traffic rules and regulations shall be distinct from the penalties provided by this Ordinance. Thus, any findings of culpability by the LTFRB shall require the violator to pay the corresponding penalty to the LTFRB and the City Treasury Office. /Aileen P. Refuerzo#
