A QUEZON City councilor on Friday urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to revoke the franchise of any public utility vehicle obstructing traffic.
The 36-member City Council passed Resolution No. 6957 of 2016, calling on the LTFRB to revoke the certificate of public convenience or franchise “of a passenger jeepney, bus, taxi and other PUV that uses the public road, street or highway as a parking area, terminal or garage.”
District 2 Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica authored the resolution, citing as necessary the need for the transport bureau to exercise its authority over public conveyances engaged in the obstructing practice, in a bid to improve traffic flow and ensure public safety, especially in Quezon City.
“While public roads, streets and highways are designed for motorists, commuters and pedestrians, it has been observed that many public utility vehicles are using these areas as their parking spaces, terminal or garage, not only during daytime but also during nighttime,” Ludovica said.
He sought the assistance of the LTFRB to put a stop on such practice, saying the agency is primarily tasked to oversee the issuance and cancellation of the franchises of the public land transportation services provided by these motorized vehicles.
Under the LTFRB rules, only PUVs operating with proper garage spaces are to be issued franchises.
Meanwhile, Quezon City takes the forefront of local government participation in the country’s fight against cancer as the Philippine Cancer Society chose it as its partner for the 2017 Relay for Life Campaign Against Cancer.
Mayor Herbert Bautista, who also sits as PCS chairman, was invited to join this year’s participants for a walk to highlight the formal opening of the 24-hour relay yesterday at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
Relay for Life is a global fund-raising event where participants take turn walking around a track or a designated path to signify that cancer never sleeps.
Mayor Bautista has enjoined the participation of city hall employees as well as barangay officials and workers in the March 10 event, which has as theme: “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.”
Quezon City has been hosting the anti-cancer campaign for more than 10 consecutive years in the hope of raising funds to support the various programs of the PCS, which organizers said, would also be beneficial for QC residents.
City Administrator Aldrin Cuña said proceeds of the relay will support the PCS in its outreach program for breast examination and pap smear, patient navigation program, mammography, medical assistance for early stage breast cancer patients and free clinical consultation.
The PCS has identified cancer as the third-ranked killer disease in the country.
