Jeepney Staff, Passengers Allegedly Harassed By Jeep Operators

JEEPNEY STAFF – Jeepney staff and passengers were allegedly harassed by jeepney operators in Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City.

According to SunStar, this occurred when the modern jeepney piled its route for the first time in the weekend. As a result, Oro the Transport Service Cooperative (OROTSCO) cried foul.

Based on a statement from Valeriano Constantino Jr., OROTSCO chairperson, the operators allegedly told the passengers to step out of the vehicle at the Puerto flyover at 3 PM, January 12.

“They threatened our passenger assistant officer for not coordinating with them.”
(Gikwelyohan pud ang among passenger assistant officer kay ngano daw wala’y coordination sa ila,)

As part of the cooperative’s opening salvo, two out of the 15 said jeepney units have recently started their operation. Constantino added that there was no need for the units to cooperate with the jeepney drivers from Barangay Bugo since they are on a new route.

He added that they will still continue operating since the modern jeepneys are getting the public’s attention with its modernized facilities.

“We will continue our run, we are not intimated because we know our operation is legal”
(Padayon gihapon ang dagan, wala kita batia ug kahadlok kay legal man ta,)

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board regional director Aminoden Guro said that he advised jeepney operators to keep their cool or they might face consequences.

“If ever they would do that, the government can bar them from the benefits and incentives which will be given to drivers and operators. There will be a tendency that they will not receive any chance to own a vehicle.”
“This program will really continue, nothing can stop the government’s modernization program”
(If ever ila ng buhaton, the government can bar them from the benefits and incentives nga ihatag sa mga drivers ug operators. Naay tendency nga dili sila matagaan ug higayon nga makapanag-iya ug sakyanan,)
(Magpadayon man gyud ni nga programa, nothing can stop the government’s modernization program)

As per the report, the cooperative introduced 15 modern jeepneys on December 10. This is, by far, the first modern transportation in the region ever since the government launched the public utility vehicle modernization program.

The units are packed with GPS monitoring system, Wi-Fi, airconditioner, among others; and is set to travel from Bugo to Igpit, Opol.

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