The dialogue with drivers and operators in connection to the High Priority Bus System, originally set on Jan. 30, 2020 was moved to Feb. 1 at the SIR Phase 1 gym in Matina.
This was confirmed by Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board XI regional director Armand Dioso, in a text message to Mindanao Times. The official said they do not want a repeat of what happened on Friday last week when thousands of commuters were stranded for hours.
It is the reason why they moved the date on a weekend this time.
“We considered that there are many schools in the downtown area, and the downtown jeepney route will mostly attending the dialogue at SIR Gym,” he said.
Last week, commuters struggled to access a ride, as most of the PUJ drivers and operators in Buhangin and Bunawan area attended the dialogue. With this, traffic enforcers bent the law a bit and asked pick-up truck owners to allow passengers to ride on the bed.
The affected routes during the consultation dialogue on Feb. 1 include all the circulatory routes plying the downtown areas and those plying the Talomo routes.
These include routes to Bago Aplaya, Talomo, Puan, Ulas, Bangkal, Matina Aplaya, Matina Crossing, Matina Pangi, Ma-a, Langub, Magtuod, Ecoland, Bago Gallera, Rosalina III, IWWHA. Rosalina II, Rosalina I, and Waan.
Other affected routes include Doña Pilar, Jade Valley, Mintal, Indangan, Davao International Airport, Malabog, Santiago Villas and Rio Vista Village.
The consultation dialogue, conducted by the Social Development Program of the city government will tackle the social compensation package for the PUJ drivers and operators. This is to prepare them for the implementation of the HPBS.
The consultation shall start at 8 a.m. onwards.
The operators and drivers are reminded that failure to comply with the order will warrant an imposition of penalty pursuant to Paragraph 48 of Memorandum Circular No. 2011-004, or the 2011 Revised Terms and Conditions of CPCs in relation to Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 or the Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Laws, Rules and Regulations Governing Land Transportation dated June 2, 2014.
