THE outspoken manager of the PN Roa Canitoan Transport Cooperative (PONTRANSCO) is demanding a subsidy of P750 per day for each of her 30 modernized jeepneys before it would resume operations.
Luzminda Escobidal, who incidentally is also the head of the influential Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Service Cooperatives, admitted that she is aware of legal consequences of their cooperative’s decision.
Under Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Memorandum Circular 2011-004 and the 201 revised terms and conditions of the certificate of public convenience, PUV operators are prohibited from engaging in any activity that causes cessation of service.
But Escobidal insisted that PONTRANSCO has already lost P400,000 in March alone due to rising fuel prices brought by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
“Dili kini akoa lang nga desisyon kundi desisyon kini sa kooperatiba. Amo pud protektahan ang among mga miyembro,” she said.
Escobidal met Monday afternoon (April 6) with Mayor Rolando Uy and LTFRB 10 director Alexes Joseph Bendijo to find solutions to the problem.
In a separate report, 102.5 Brigada News FM CdeO posted that Bendijo reportedly asked Escobidal during the meeting to field vehicles during rush hours.
The city government of Cagayan de Oro had earlier fielded a bus, several coasters and rescue trucks to fetch stranded commuters in PN Roa and Calaanan – sitios in barangay Canitoan which have a combined population of around 3,000 people.
PONTRANSCO’s decision to halt operations starting Good Friday coincided on a long weekend Easter break and the problem was felt by commuters only starting today.
During the meeting, Escobidal voiced out her proposal for a P750 per unit per day aid from the city government for the modernized jeepneys.
PONTRANSCO has 30 vehicles in its fleet so her requested amount would cost City Hall P22,500 a day or P697,500 a month.
During an interview after the meeting, Escobidal said the city government could get the fund allocated if it declares its own local state of energy emergency.
This, as the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) of Cagayan de Oro through a special full council virtual meeting held the same day endorsed a resolution to the City Council declaring the said state of emergency city.
Councilors are expected to act on the matter Tuesday morning (April 7).
The special full DRRMC meeting was attended by various members from the local government, national agencies and other civil society organizations.
Among those present was City Director Ellaine Josephine Depaur of the Department of the Interior and Local Government – CDO who emphasized organizing the city’s deliverables for this initiative.
It can be recalled that on March 31, based on an Executive Order by Uy, the energy crisis committee held its first meeting as an initial step in addressing the impact of the oil crisis.
During today’s flag-raising ceremony, Uy expressed hope that the 21st City Council would approve and support the measure.
