The United Negros Drivers Operators Center and the disenfranchised jeepney operators in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are seeking the help of local officials in finding a solution to the problem of proliferation of fake franchises.

UNDOC secretary general Jessie Ortega yesterday said the disenfranchised operators will be forced to file anti-graft charges against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board unless the problem of fake franchises is resolved.

He said their group, together with some of the 150 victims of fake franchises, have prepared a joint position paper to be submitted to Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Councilor Dindo Ramos, Committee on Transportation chairman, pushing for the issuance of new certificates of public convenience to replace fake franchises issued to some operators.

"We believe the problem of fake franchise may be happening nationwide because of the alleged mismanagement of LTFRB," Ortega said. He said the disenfranchised operators cannot be issued a city sticker and by April, the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office will launch a campaign against fake franchises.

Ortega said that, despite steps taken by the Bacolod City government to resolve the problem like the passage of a resolution asking LTFRB to open additional franchises for the victims of fake franchises, LTFRB has not taken action. Allan Orbista, one of the disenfranchised operators, said fake franchises were only discovered when the city organized the Bacolod Traffic Authority. It was then found out that there were several public utility vehicles that had the same case numbers because the operators were issued fake Deeds of Sale, he said.

Nilo Frias, UNDOC deputy secretary, said that on July 21, 2003 UNDOC wrote LTFRB regional director Porferio Clavel and asked him to take action against the proliferation of fake franchises. This elicited no action, he said. He also said LTFRB cancelled several certificates of public convenience for being fake, although these documents have undergone the procedures required by LTFRB and were signed by Clavel.

Ortega said they are requesting Representatives Ignacio Arroyo and Monico Puentevella, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon and the Mayor to help resolve the problem of fake franchises.

Meanwhile, Ortega said Clavel claimed that the temporary closure of the LTFRB sub-office in Bacolod in November 2005 is due to the rationalization program of the government. He said Clavel informed him that LTFRB personnel will hold mobile service in Bacolod twice a week starting April.*CGS

back to top