ABOUT 22 of Cebu City’s 90 passenger jeepney routes will be “restructured” with the planned implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) said yesterday.
Citom chief Rafael Yap said these routes are located along the BRT route which starts in Bulacao and will traverse Osmeña Boulevard, the Provincial Capitol area, Escario Street, Ayala and Talamban.
“But as part of the social mitigation, we will also be opening new routes to replace the revoked routes,” Yap said.
Consultations will be done by Citom and other transport agencies with the affected jeepney drivers, he said.
Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the impact of BRT operations in the city won’t be adverse to the passenger jeepney drivers.
“In my own understanding, there will be no outright deletion of route so as not to totally displace drivers and operators,” she said.
The 90 passenger jeepney routes are covered by 1,310 authorized jeepneys. Assuming each of the vehicles have two drivers working on shifts, the city has 2,620 passenger jeepney drivers.
Cuizon said the routes will only be restructured and shortened to prevent the jeepneys from entering the BRT route.
Yap said the planned restructuring of routes coincides with Citom’s plan to open new routes for city residents.
Some of these residents are being serviced by motorcycles for hire, Cuizon said. He said a city ordinance which sets the routes in Cebu City was passed and implemented in 2006 yet. Since then, no new travel lines were opened.
“We still have areas in Cebu City that have no access to public transport,” Yap said.
Passenger jeepney operators were glum in their response to Citom’s disclosure. Alex Bordadora, chairman of the Visayan United Drivers Transport Service Cooperative (Vudtrasco) said the BRT system will displace their members and aggravate traffic congestion. With Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao