THE city government of Manila’s crackdown on trip-cutting public-utility vehicles (PUVs) has netted 140 violators in the last two weeks. Manila City Mayor Joseph “Erap” E. Estrada warned this is only the start of the strengthened drive against erring PUV drivers.
Estrada commended the special anti-trip-cutting unit of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) for its relentless operations that started from August 24 to September 13, apprehending erring drivers of passenger jeepneys and buses.
“This is just the beginning,” Estrada warned trip-cutting PUV drivers. “You will surely have more bad days in the coming weeks if you won’t stop that illegal practice.” Estrada emphasized trip-cutting is a clear violation of a PUV’s franchise. “We will never relent until this illegal practice of trip-cutting is stopped.”
From August 24 to September 13, team leader Elvis Patao said 140 violators were apprehended and fined P1,000 each for trip-cutting violations based on the city’s traffic code.
Most were apprehended in Divisoria and P. Burgos fronting Manila City Hall with the help of members of the Manila Police District (MPD).
The others were apprehended in Adriatico, particularly along Padre Faura Street, and in Santa Cruz, he added.
In Binondo, Patao said they have put up a permanent outpost to catch trip-cutting violators.
“As instructed by Mayor Erap, we don’t give second chances to violators we have apprehended. We must be strict in this campaign to serve as a lesson to these erring drivers,” he said.
Patao encouraged the public to text or call their hot line 0917-1544514 in case they are victimized by cutting trip, or report it to Estrada’s official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mayorjosephestrada.
“If you can, take a picture of the vehicle’s license plate, and send it to us. We will do the rest,” he said.
Starting next week, he announced they will start conducting nighttime operations because, based on the complaints they have received, trip-cutting is more rampant after 5 p.m.
Based on the complaints reported by netizens to Estrada’s Facebook page, trip-cutting is rampant in the following routes: R. Papa-Rizal Avenue; Divisoria-Recto-San Juan; Harrison Plaza-Baclaran-Buendia; Santa Ana-Padre Faura-Robinsons Place; and City Hall-Taft Avenue-Baclaran, among other routes.
Trip-cutting is the practice of PUV drivers to cut short their route due to petty reasons, such as traffic congestion and to save on fuel costs. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board imposes a fine of P5,000 to violators.