PUBLIC ASKS: WHERE ARE THE ELECTRONIC JEEPNEYS?

We would like to apologize that our units are still not on the streets.

MALVIN ARIAS, PRESIDENT OF UNITED DRIVERS, OPERATORS AND TRANSPORT COOPERATIVE

Why are electronic jeepneys (e-jeepneys) not running in Lapu-Lapu City yet? Some residents are asking the question as no e-jeeps can be seen plying the city streets a week after they were introduced to the public. Barangay Pajo chief Junard “Ahong” Chan, who is running for Lapu-Lapu City mayor, was one of those who questioned their absence. Chan said tricycle drivers are not driving the new units because they are not satisfied with the vehicle while some operators feared they would be accused of causing further traffic in the city. But Malvin Arias, president of the United Drivers, Operators and Transport Cooperative, said Chan is politicizing the issue. Arias denied his members were unsatisfied, saying they earlier expressed support at a meeting. He said the e-jeeps had not started running because they were waiting for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 to issue them a fare matrix, or the list of fares per destination. But he admitted that some drivers were already asking when they could start operating. “We would like to apologize that our units are still not on the streets. When the new e-jeeps were launched, the LTFRB told us they were still preparing the fare matrix. We initially thought we could start operating since we already had provisional authority issued by the LTFRB,” Arias said in Cebuano. He added they were trying their best to start operating by March. /