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PUV drivers, operators urged to use quality GPS devices

By Jigger Jerusalem

January 17, 2022, 2:14 pm

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Region 10 (LTFRB-10) has reminded drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs), especially modernized ones, to use quality global positioning system (GPS) devices for effective monitoring of their units.

The GPS is one of the requirements set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to ensure that PUVs are safe for the riding public, according to LTFRB-10 Director Aminoden Guro during a phone interview by the Philippine News Agency on Sunday.

Besides, he said these devices are compliant with the DOTr’s Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG).

“As early as 2017, through a department order, PUVs are required to install Wi-Fi connection, closed-circuit security camera, dashboard camera, and GPS,” Guro said.

These gadgets, he said, have been very helpful not only in monitoring the movement of the PUVs and their drivers but also in solving crimes inside and outside the vehicle.

The regional director also narrated the concerns of some operators who do not see their units operating but, with the help of the GPS, were able to track whether their units are being driven or not.

Guro has also cautioned operators to buy only quality-made GPS devices for their PUVs and not to settle for inexpensive but not durable ones.

“Some buy GPS gadgets from non-LTFRB accredited stores for cheap ones, but these break down easily, plus these have no warranty,” he said.

Guro was reacting to complaints from some drivers that the GPS device that was required of them was quite expensive and unaffordable on their part.

A quality GPS device, he said, may cost from PHP6,000 to PHP7,000, but it is of good quality and has a warranty.

“If you divide the cost into days, you can only spend for the GPS for PHP20 or so a day, and that’s affordable,” he said.

Guro explained that his office has been lenient with operators, giving them consideration on the non-installation of GPS devices.

He said it is high time that these operators comply with the requirements by the LTFRB-10.

In a recent online meeting with transport groups, Guro discussed the “no vaccination, no ride" policy to be implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR), explaining that such strategy may also be implemented in the region if coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases continue to rise.

In the same meeting, Luzminda Lalaine Escobidal, general manager of a transport cooperative, said they once implemented such policy in their modernized PUVs but some traditional PUVs take in non-vaccinated individuals and so it defeated the purpose of helping contain the spread of the virus.

Guro responded that in so far as the current guidelines in the NCR are concerned, the DOTr memorandum circular does not discern such matter at the moment, and therefore the implementation of the “no vaccination, no ride” policy is required to all PUVs.

He requested the meeting participants to get vaccinated, and strictly observe that only vaccinated drivers shall be allowed to drive their PUVs.

A list of vaccinated individuals in each transport cooperative and corporation was also requested by LTFRB-10. (PNA)

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