WAITING TOO LONG: Transport co-ops criticized for delayed dispatching plans

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO) criticized transport cooperatives for failing to submit their dispatching plans, leading to passengers enduring waits of up to two hours at terminals, even during regular hours.

TTMO head Retired Col. Uldarico Garbanzos noted that the dispatching plan was discussed before the start of classes, but the transport cooperatives operating in the city have yet to comply.

“The situation was anticipated long before classes began, and in fact, there were a series of meetings where it was discussed,” Garbanzos told Daily Guardian on Wednesday, August 14.

“This would not have happened if our transport cooperatives had complied with their commitments during our meetings. Their commitment was to have a dispatching plan.”

The dispatching plan is part of the city’s full implementation of its enhanced Local Public Transport Route Plan, which commenced in late May.

Garbanzos observed that passengers stranded at city terminals have been observed for almost three weeks.

Public school classes from Kindergarten to Senior High School started on July 29, while most higher education institutions in the city began on August 12.

He highlighted that the major concern for the TTMO is the Mohon Terminal, unlike other terminals such as Ungka and Jaro, where the influx of passengers remains manageable.

Garbanzos emphasized that the lack of adherence to the dispatching plan, including the practice of waiting to fill vehicles to capacity before departure, has worsened the situation.

“Some vehicles wait until fully occupied before leaving. Some are taking too much time on the roads to fetch other passengers, causing delays in their return to the terminal,” he explained.

Unlike transport cooperatives in the city, jeepneys from the city’s first or border towns had already submitted their dispatching plans before the start of classes.

According to their plan, these jeepneys are required to begin their routes from the point of origin and not from the perimeter boundary terminals.

Garbanzos urged transport cooperatives to comply with the requirements, noting that they are authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to provide efficient and effective transport solutions for the city.

“If the dispatching plan is not followed and the mindset of overloading vehicles persists, this issue will be a recurring problem,” he warned.

Currently, the city’s streets are served by 520 modernized units and 420 consolidated traditional units, augmented by 40 percent of first-town jeepneys operating during peak hours (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) and 25 percent during off-peak hours.