A transport group asked the help of the city government on the apprehension of vehicles plying the Matina Pangi to Downtown route.
The group has likewise petitioned the Land Transportation Office to temporarily stop the apprehension of its drivers, at least until the fare matrix of the drivers is resolved.
In a letter addressed to LTO XI regional director Gomer Dy, Matina Pangi Drivers Association president Ricardo Dael sought for a dialogue with the agency.
“Kami nanghangyo sa inyohang malumo nga kasing–kasing nga kung mamahimo nga ipahunong una ang pagpangdakop sa among hanay sa Matina Pangi-R. Magsaysay nga rota sa kaso nga cutting trip (We appeal for your good hearts to temporarily stop the apprehension of our drivers for cutting trips),” Dael said.
The letter was dated June 11 and stamped received the same day. The item was approved on first reading on Tuesday at the City Council.
In an interview Tuesday, Dy said that the LTO will still apprehend the erring drivers until there is a resolution from the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) or the City Franchise Bureau.
The Matina Pangi to R. Magsaysay jeepney route has an average trip distance of around 11.7 kilometers, with the entire trip usually taking around one-and-a-half hours.
It connects residents from Matina Pangi directly to the main roads of JP Laurel (which leads to the commercial areas in the city) and R. Magsaysay (which leads to Chinatown and the main downtown area).
Ideally, the entire trip should let the public utility jeep reach Matina Pangi, across the diversion road.
However, the Matina Pangi jeepneys usually end the trips at the corner of Matina Crossing, around five kilometers short of the actual length of the trip.
Passengers wishing to travel the entire portion of the trip may travel via tricycle services near the Matina Centerpoint area or, worse, through available habal-habal.
The jeepney operators claim that there was a “complication” with the fare matrix for their franchise.
