San Fernando awaits EO 712 directive
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Legal Office here has finally broken its silence on the issue of the Executive Ordinance (EO) 712 amid national and local clamor for local government units (LGUs) to implement the order.
City Legal Officer Ramsey Ocampo said the City Government has not received any directive regarding the EO.
EO 712, which was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last March 11, seeks to pacify complaints on the establishment of common transport terminals by the LGUs in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Other complaints include rerouting schemes in violation of authorized routes as provided for in the transport organizations' respective certificates of public convenience issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the enactment of various ordinances which result in additional cost to operators and drivers like the mandatory purchase of stickers and driver's identification cards.
The City Government has been silent for the last several days on whether or not it would implement the EO.
Ocampo said last Friday that the Malacañang order has not reached them. "I have heard about it but we haven't received any directive on it yet," he said despite the ordinance is set to be implement after 15 days that it was signed.
The city legal officer said they are still waiting for the directive from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the results of the two pending cases regarding the much controversial City Central Transport Terminal (CCTT).
The CCTT has been the subject of criticism for allegedly providing as an "effective milking cow" for city councilors who allegedly own some of the stalls in the CCTT under proxy names.
The terminal is also being criticized for having more stalls than seats for commuters waiting for their transport aside for the extra fare burden on commuters accessing the terminal.
Transport operators and drivers have expressed optimism on the EO.
Bataan Transit, one of the big bus companies affected by the CCTT, has filed opposition in court and has been continuing its operation in its former location along Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Olongapo Gapan Road).
This is aside from a similar case filed by Victory Liner, which was able to obtain a temporary restraining order (TRO) from using the CCTT.
The two cases are now being heard in Branches 44 and 47 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here.
EO 712 has directed the DILG to suspend the practice of "the establishment and operation of new and existing transport terminals that charge fees and require compulsory use by public utility vehicles (PUVs)" of which may adversely affect the operation of the San Fernando Terminal.
However, the DILG seems to be lukewarm on how to proceed with the implementation of the ordinance.
Lawyer Ofelio Tactac of the DILG said the EO has different aspects that fall under a joint agency effort.
"It involves other agencies," Tactac said, adding that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has a say on the issues regarding franchises and the likes.
He said the central office of the DILG has issued an "advisory" on the EO but it has yet to issue a directive on the implementation of the EO.
"We will be seeking clarification regarding how to implement the EO," Tactac said, adding that the LGUs in the province would adhere to the EO of the President.
"I think they (LGUs) would comply with the President's order. In the President's province, I don't think that it would be a problem," he said.
Drivers and operators here, on the other hand, are "restless" for the implementation of the EO. By Ian Ocampo Flora - SunStar
City Legal Officer Ramsey Ocampo said the City Government has not received any directive regarding the EO.
EO 712, which was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last March 11, seeks to pacify complaints on the establishment of common transport terminals by the LGUs in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Other complaints include rerouting schemes in violation of authorized routes as provided for in the transport organizations' respective certificates of public convenience issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the enactment of various ordinances which result in additional cost to operators and drivers like the mandatory purchase of stickers and driver's identification cards.
The City Government has been silent for the last several days on whether or not it would implement the EO.
Ocampo said last Friday that the Malacañang order has not reached them. "I have heard about it but we haven't received any directive on it yet," he said despite the ordinance is set to be implement after 15 days that it was signed.
The city legal officer said they are still waiting for the directive from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the results of the two pending cases regarding the much controversial City Central Transport Terminal (CCTT).
The CCTT has been the subject of criticism for allegedly providing as an "effective milking cow" for city councilors who allegedly own some of the stalls in the CCTT under proxy names.
The terminal is also being criticized for having more stalls than seats for commuters waiting for their transport aside for the extra fare burden on commuters accessing the terminal.
Transport operators and drivers have expressed optimism on the EO.
Bataan Transit, one of the big bus companies affected by the CCTT, has filed opposition in court and has been continuing its operation in its former location along Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Olongapo Gapan Road).
This is aside from a similar case filed by Victory Liner, which was able to obtain a temporary restraining order (TRO) from using the CCTT.
The two cases are now being heard in Branches 44 and 47 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here.
EO 712 has directed the DILG to suspend the practice of "the establishment and operation of new and existing transport terminals that charge fees and require compulsory use by public utility vehicles (PUVs)" of which may adversely affect the operation of the San Fernando Terminal.
However, the DILG seems to be lukewarm on how to proceed with the implementation of the ordinance.
Lawyer Ofelio Tactac of the DILG said the EO has different aspects that fall under a joint agency effort.
"It involves other agencies," Tactac said, adding that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has a say on the issues regarding franchises and the likes.
He said the central office of the DILG has issued an "advisory" on the EO but it has yet to issue a directive on the implementation of the EO.
"We will be seeking clarification regarding how to implement the EO," Tactac said, adding that the LGUs in the province would adhere to the EO of the President.
"I think they (LGUs) would comply with the President's order. In the President's province, I don't think that it would be a problem," he said.
Drivers and operators here, on the other hand, are "restless" for the implementation of the EO. By Ian Ocampo Flora - SunStar
Labels: LGUs, pampanga, san fernando, terminal
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