Paniqui, Tarlac – – No change is coming?
The transport group Tarlac-Moncada-Paniqui-Gerona Transport Service Cooperative Inc. (TAMOGEPA) hailed the relief from post of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 3 head but are “pessimistic” on the newly designation regional director of the board.
“Natutuwa kami sa pagkakalipat ni Atty. Zona Russet Tamayo, pero mukhang wala ring mangyayaring pagbabago sa bagong director. Hindi pa rin mahuhuling lahat ang mga colorum”, said a member of the TAMOGEPA after confirming the transfer of Tamayo.
The transport group has been seeking then the relief and investigation of Tamayo and that of Land Transportation Offices (LTO) Region 3 Director Marina De Jesus for “their inaction on the colorum vans in Tarlac province”.
Tamayo was replaced by Atty. Glenn Zaragoza who came from LTFRB Region 3.
TAMOGEPA has submitted several complaints against the “unabashed” operation of the more than 200 colorum vans plying their franchise route since 2010 but, apparently, “the LTFRB Region 3 under Tamayo and LTO are tolerating the colorum”.
Everyday, colorum vans are seen picking and unloading passengers along the Mac Arthur Highway from Tarlac City to the northern towns of the province.
Most of them park daily at the Paniqui main intersection, at the Palm Plaza, Metrotown Mall and SM Tarlac City and at the bus stop fronting the Gerona Police Station.
“Siya mismo ang nagsabi na walang siyang babaguhin sa sistemang inabutan niya sa office (LTFRB Region 3). At ang mga dating assigned sa anti-colorum drive sila pa rin”, said the TAMOGEPA member who requested his name withheld for fear of reprisal.
Yesterday, some TAMOGEPA officials led by their chairman Bernie Fajardo personally visited Zaragosa and submitted to him their letter complaint with request “to set-aside/dismiss the application for franchise of the colorum vans and to apprehend all the colorum”.
“Isa pa matanda na siya at may cancer pa, paano niya mabibigyan ng sapat na atensyon ang mga colorum? Anim na taon na nila kaming pinapahirapan at halos hindi na kumakain ang aming mga pamilya pero hanggang ngayon nandyan pa rin ang mga bcolorum”, also lamented the griping jipney driver.
During the call at his office, the 62-year old Zaragoza volunteered the information that he is suffering from prostrate cancer for the past couple of years.
Last March 18, 2016, the TAMOGEPA submitted their complaint letter to Tamayo and LTO Regional Director Marina De Jesus “but the operation of the colorum white vans remained unacted”.
However, in a separate interview, Fajardo said, “Sa pagbabago ng director sa LTFRB, umaasa kami na magiging seryoso ang kampanya laban sa mga colorum. Binigbigyan naming siya ng sapat na panahon para linisin o tanggalin ang corruption sa kaniyang opisina at ipatupad ang batas laban sa mga colorum”./Nelson Bolos; FB: Central Luzon News Center