Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Monday has activated a special unit to apprehend jeepney and bus drivers habitually committing trip-cutting after being swamped with complaints from commuters.
Estrada also asked the public to report any cutting trip to the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau through Manila City Hall’s Facebook community page (https://www.facebook.com/mayorjosephestrada/) for immediate action.
“Trip-cutting is a violation of their franchise, and it is an injustice to the paying passengers. We should stop this illegal practice at once,” Estrada said.
Trip-cutting is the practice of PUV drivers to cut short their route due to petty reasons, such as traffic congestion, to save on fuel.
The Land Transportation and Franchising Board imposes a fine of P5,000 on trip-cutting violators.
As directed by Estrada, MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said he has formed a 12-man team to go around the city and apprehend trip-cutting drivers.
Based on complaints reported by netizens to city hall’s Facebook community page, trip-cutting is rampant in the following routes: R. Papa-Rizal Avenue; Divisoria-Recto-San Juan; Harrison Plaza-Baclaran-Buendia; Sta. Ana-Padre Faura-Robinson’s Place; and City Hall-Taft Avenue-Baclaran, among others.
“Our anti-trip-cutting campaign will be carried out mercilessly. This is continuing, until those erring jeepney and bus drivers realize it is no longer practical to cut short their trips,” Alcoreza said.
“So, I’m appealing to the public for their cooperation. If you cannot report it in person, report the details to Manila’s community page. We assure you that we will act on it,” he added.
Since the start of the crackdown on August 24, 13 jeepney and bus drivers have been apprehended and fined P1,000 each based on the traffic code of Manila, according to MTPB-Barangay Traffic Assistance Group project director Elvis Patao, who leads the anti-cutting trip team.
One indication that a jeepney driver is involved in trip-cutting is that he displays a different signboard that does not match the routes painted on the body of his vehicle, Patao pointed out.
To further intensify their operations, he said they are planning to put up assistance desks in areas where trip-cutting is rampant where passengers could immediately go to complain.