Commuters were left stranded or late for work because of the lack of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in some areas of Bacolod City on Monday morning, November 7.
PUVs without franchises and provisional authorities kept off the streets to avoid apprehension at Land Transportation Office (LTO) checkpoints positioned in various parts of the city.
The LTO will continue to apprehend colorum PUVs and issue citations to violators of its regulations in Bacolod to ensure the safety of the riding public, LTO Bacolod chief Renato Novero said.
Novero said they were only able to apprehend one traditional jeepney without proper documents on Monday because the other violators went into hiding.
There are only 123 modernized jeepneys and 1,394 traditional jeepneys who have business permits issued by the Bacolod City’s Business Permits and License Office, a city government statement said.
The modernized and traditional jeepneys with franchises continued to operate on Monday.
There are normally more than 3,000 jeepneys operating in Bacolod City, but many of them have not been granted renewed franchises and provisional authorities for failure to comply with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
The traditional jeepneys without franchises that initially kept off the streets resumed operations when the LTO inspectors left their checkpoint areas.
Operators and drivers of traditional jeepneys seeking the help of city officials are joining a dialog with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Novero at the Bacolod City Government Center at 9 a.m. today.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez who tested positive for COVID-19 will not be able to attend.
The city government and some barangays deployed vehicles to assist stranded passengers.
The mayor has yet to issue a statement on the transport situation in Bacolod.*