Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said on Friday he has enlisted the help of transport groups to remove “colorum” jeepneys and traffic-causing illegal terminals in the city.
Estrada is set to sign a tripartite memorandum of agreement (MoA) with two major transport groups—Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila & Suburbs Drivers Association (Pasang Masda) and Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap)—that aims to decongest major thoroughfares.
“Eliminating colorum in the streets and easing traffic flow needs the cooperation of everybody, especially from the transport sector itself. With this united front, we are confident we can rid Manila of illegal PUVs in the soonest possible time,” Estrada said.
Fejodap, headed by Zenaida Maranan, and Pasang Masda led by Roberto “Ka Obet” Martin, are two of the biggest organizations of jeepney operators and drivers in the country, both of which have about 5,000 members.
Under the tripartite agreement, the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau and the two transport groups will identify and apprehend drivers and operators of jeepneys plying the city’s main roads and city streets.
A system will be established where franchised Fejodap and Pasang Masda driver-members, acting as the city government’s “eyes and ears,” will report directly to MTPB traffic enforcers any colorum vehicles they spot on the road.
MTPB head Dennis Alcoreza said a special unit of traffic enforcers is being formed to receive, verify and act on the reports.
“Once we have verified the information with the LTO [Land Transportation Office] and the LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, we will immediately arrest the colorum drivers and impound their vehicle,” Alcoreza said.
As MTPB’s “spotters,” the driver-members of the two groups will also report traffic congested areas, illegal terminals, corrupt and abusive traffic personnel and even their fellow drivers who wantonly violate traffic rules.