PUJ coding suspension to ease public transport lack

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- The committee on public utilities, transportation, and traffic legislation of the Baguio City Council is proposing to lift the coding scheme for all public utility jeepneys (PUJs) except those plying Trancoville and La Trinidad.

According to Councilor Benny Bomogao, chairperson of the committee, PUJ associations have been requesting for this due to lack of jeepney units available to transport commuters.

Bomogao added the traffic situation in the city, especially during rush hours, delays the return of jeepneys to their respective terminals resulting to long queues of waiting passengers.

Once approved, the amendatory ordinance will lift the suspension scheme for all PUJs plying the city except Trancoville and La Trinidad PUJs.

However, the ordinance provided the city mayor may lift the exception for Trancoville and La Trinidad PUJs “when the same is shown to be for the interest of the public.”

The proponents based their proposal on their observation on the suspension of coding scheme for all PUJs in the xity except for PUJs operating in the areas of La Trinidad, Aurora Hill and Trancoville pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 181 Series of 2019.

The said EO was issued by then Acting Mayor Faustino Olowan for the period of Dec. 27, 2019 to Jan. 5, 2020.

The proponents said that there was no significant effect on the traffic volume of vehicles during this period and that the suspension had “significantly lessened the long queues on the various PUJ terminals during rush hours.”

The amendatory ordinance was approved on first reading during the city council's regular session on Jan. 20 and was referred to committee on laws, human rights, and justice for review and recommendation.