Tag: jeepney

LTO suspends license of jeepney driver responsible for hitting a woman in Parañaque City

LTO suspends license of jeepney driver responsible for hitting a woman in Parañaque City

carlocarrasco

A few days ago, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended for ninety days the license of the jeepney driver who was held responsible for hitting a woman who crossed the pedestrian lane in Parañaque City, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). It is recalled that the said driver as well as owner of the jeepney were summoned by the LTO.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday suspended the license of a jeepney driver who hit a woman crossing a pedestrian lane in Parañaque City in December.

In a statement, the LTO said driver Leonilo Aque has received a 90-day preventive suspension of his driver’s license.

“Kasunod ito ng pag-amin ng drayber ng jeep na si Leonilo Aque na nabundol nito ang babaeng tumatawid matapos na hindi agad makapagpreno (This is after Aque admitted to having struck a woman crossing the street after he failed to apply brakes on time),” the LTO said.

The incident recorded through a closed-circuit television showed a woman who was suddenly struck by a jeepney while crossing a pedestrian lane.

Aque and the owner of the jeepney were issued a show cause order on Dec. 22, 2022, and were summoned to appear before the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on Dec. 28.

They were summoned for violation of DOTC Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 or “failure to yield right of way for pedestrian crossing” and Republic Act 4136 on reckless driving and being an “improper person to operate a vehicle.”

“During the hearing, Mr. Aque affirmed that he is the assigned driver of the subject motor vehicle and admitted that he hit/bumped a pedestrian during the incident. Thus, his professional driver’s license is hereby preventively suspended,” the LTO said.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade warned motorists, especially drivers of public transport, that it is within their responsibility to keep the roads safe.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Do you consider Parañaque a hot spot for traffic incidents involving jeepneys? Do you think the 90-day suspension by the LTO is sufficient?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

LTO summons jeepney driver accused of hitting pedestrian in Parañaque City, jeepney owner summoned too

LTO summons jeepney driver accused of hitting pedestrian in Parañaque City, jeepney owner summoned too

carlocarrasco

In Parañaque City, there was a traffic incident that occurred when a woman got hit by a public transport jeepney while crossing the pedestrian lane. The incident was caught on CCTV video and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has summoned the driver and jeepney owner to appear at the Intelligence and Investigation off on December 28, 2022, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Inquirer news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday said it issued a show cause order against the jeepney driver that rammed a crossing individual in Parañaque City.

According to the LTO, the driver and the jeepney owner were summoned and are expected to appear at its Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) office on December 28, Wednesday, at 10 am.

Both individuals were also required to submit a written explanation of why they should not be charged with the administrative case of Employing Reckless Driver in accordance with the DOTC Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.

The jeepney driver should also explain why cases of Failure to Yield Right of Way for Pedestrian Crossing (pursuant to DOTC JAO No. 2014-01) and Reckless Driving (pursuant to Section 48 of Republic Act 4136) should not be filed against him, and why his driver’s license should not be suspended or revoked for being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle which is also stated in RA 4136.

The passenger jeep’s license plate and the driver’s license are now on alert due to the incident that injured the pedestrian, preventing any transactions while the investigation is ongoing.

The owner and driver of the jeep will forfeit their right to tell their side of the story and have the complaint decided using the LTO’s evidence if they fail to show up when the IID summons them.

This developed after the LTO, through a CCTV video, caught the incident, which showed a woman crossing a pedestrian lane suddenly get hit by a public jeepney. The incident occurred last week, but the LTO did not specify the exact date.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be a lot of reckless drivers among the public transport jeepney drivers who drive regularly through Parañaque City every day?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

My Observations: Still No Draft Proposal For Electric Vehicles At Parañaque City (February 21, 2019 update)

My Observations: Still No Draft Proposal For Electric Vehicles At Parañaque City (February 21, 2019 update)

carlocarrasco

I revisited Parañaque City Hall today to find out if there were any breakthroughs with regards to legalizing/legitimizing the use of electric vehicles for public transportation use within the city.

The result of my visit? NO PROGRESS whatsoever! According to my sources there, NOT EVEN A DRAFT PROPOSAL was made nor submitted by any member of the City Council until now (February 21, 2019).

This lack of progress to modernize public transportation in Parañaque is indeed disturbing. The City Government of Muntinlupa approved legislation for electric vehicles for public transportation years ago which explains why electric jeepneys (e-jeep) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) are present within the city and commuters have been riding them. At nearby Las Piñas City, their approval of an electric tricycle ordinance since May 2018 resulted their receiving of a donation of one hundred e-trike units from the Department of Energy and already many of those said units have bee deployed to barangays around the city through the different Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs).

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On November 2018, City Government officials of Las Pinas formally received from the Department of Energy (DOE) one hundred electric tricycle (e-trike) units as a donation and the City’s Electric Tricycle ordinance (approved May 2018) made that possible. (photo source – City of Las Pinas Facebook page)

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A few of the 100 electric tricycles (e-trikes) donated by the DOE to Las Pinas. (photo source – City of Las Pinas Facebook page)

Going back to Parañaque, which was where I grew up in long ago, it is mind boggling that even though the national government has been heavily pushing for public utility vehicles modernization (or PUV Modernization) using technology that is cleaner, safe, more comfortable and less noisy, the City Government under mayor Edwin Olivarez still has not made any moves to legalize e-vehicles as a viable form of public transportation for the commuters. Safe to say, Parañaque is now behind Las Pinas and Muntinlupa on PUV modernization and commuters have no choice but to ride those noisy, unsafe and air-polluting tricycles and jeepneys.

No political will, no legislation and certainly no PUV modernization.

What is very funny is that mayor Olivarez has posed for pictures with electric vehicles more than once! Look at these pictures I found.

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Parañaque’s mayor (7th from left) posing for pictures during the July 2016 launch of the FAILED electric tricycle project of the BF Federation of Homeowner Association, Inc. (BFFHAI), BFCOM and Barangay BF Homes. The project was launched but never went into full operation due to legal and technical problems. Of course, the City had NO ORDINANCE to legitimize such a project. It comes to show that the project handlers failed to do their research on the legality of e-vehicles for public transportation. (photo source – Ecos Efi Facebook page)

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In April 2017, Parañaque’s mayor (seated at the back) rode a solar-electric tricycle of Star 8 during a demonstration at Parañaque City Hall. It was all just a show. (photo source – Mayor Edwin Olivarez Facebook page)

All that posing in front of photographers. Smiling with guests. Looking handsome. Still no breakthrough!

With the next local election happening on May this year, it remains to be seen if the incumbent City Government officials will do anything to improve public transportation for the many commuters of the city. Those commuters have no choice but to endure the high noise and dirty air when traveling within the city.

If you are a concerned citizen and you want reforms to happen, better write formal letters to the City Council members, the City Administrator (Fernando Ding Soriano), the Vice Mayor (Rico Golez) and the Mayor himself.

Watch out for my next electric vehicles update. I got something significant coming.

Thank you for reading. If you found this article to be engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco.

Parañaque still has no ordinance to legitimize electric vehicles for public transportation

carlocarrasco

 

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On display at the grounds of Parañaque City Hall was this large solar-powered electric tricycle (e-trike). The irony is that Parañaque itself has no law to legitimize electric vehicles for public transportation.

The love and care for the natural environment is often present in the minds of people who manage the city government. Really nobody wants to live in a city filled with scattered garbage, lots of air pollution and poor drainage.

An extension of the care for the environment is the focus on the use of electric vehicles which generate much less noise and much less air pollution. Here in the Southern portion of Metro Manila, the cities of Muntinlupa and Las Pinas respectively have laws that legitimized the use of electric vehicles for public transportation purposes.

This means that commuters can choose to ride a jeepney or a tricycle that runs on electric power whenever they are available in public. When they do ride an e-vehicle, there is much less noise and air pollution created by their ride. Potentially more e-vehicles replacing those gasoline/diesel-burning vehicles can bring down air pollution and improve the quality of air in the city.

Recently the Department of Energy (DOE) donated 150 electric tricycle units to the City of Muntinlupa and 100 electric tricycle units to the City of Las Pinas (which subsequently turned them over to local tricycle operators).

As for the nearby City of Parañaque……ZERO!

Considering the huge population of Parañaque and the City Government’s strong advocacy of environmental care and city cleanliness under the leadership of incumbent mayor Edwin Olivarez, it is weird that nothing has been done to legitimize the use of e-vehicles for public transportation.

I was at Parañaque City Hall on January 23 and during my visit I checked thoroughly with officials there to verify if there is any existing law (or city ordinance) that would make public transportation with electric vehicles happen.

As it turned out, officials confirmed to me that no such ordinance has been approved until now.

What is even more disturbing, as I kept on digging for answers, was the confirmation that there is not even a draft proposal submitted for legislation!

For as long as no city ordinance has been approved to legalize the use of e-vehicles for public transportation, Parañaque’s streets (including those inside villages) will be occupied by fossil fuel-guzzling jeepneys, buses and tricycles that are not only making the air dirty but also remain noisy and even unsafe and uncomfortable (due to outdated vehicular designs) for commuters to ride.

This also means that no village administrator can just establish and fully operate its own line of electric tricycles within the city. Back in 2016 in BF Homes, the BF Federation of Homeowner Associations, Inc. (BFFHAI) launched its line of electric tricycles with mayor Olivarez and vice mayor Rico Golez as special guests. Because they were in Parañaque (which has a huge jurisdiction of BF Homes subdivision) and there was no ordinance to legalize the use of electric vehicles for public transportation within the city, the BFFHAI’s e-trikes were not accepted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and they were not fully operated. As such, those electric tricycles got wasted and was limited to being parked at the side of the BF Homes clubhouse along Elsie Gatches street. Because pictures of those parked electric tricycles became public viewed, the federation quietly had them removed.

Until now Parañaque remains behind Muntinlupa and Las Pinas when it comes to using technology to improve public transportation and reducing air and noise pollution at the same time. For the past few years, Muntinlupa has electric jeepneys on public roads and some electric tricycles serving villagers. In Las Pinas, the number of electric tricycles serving local communities is slowly growing which is the result of their City Council and Mayor approving the “E-trike Ordinance” (City Ordinance Number 1536-18, Series of 2018) on May 28, 2018. Back to Parañaque, no legislation means no progressive change will happen.

It is notable that Parañaque lost its edge when it comes to city competitiveness nationwide. According to the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index 2018 released during the 6th Regional Competitiveness Summit, Parañaque ranked only #21. Even provincial cities like Bacolod and Naga are way ahead at numbers 9 and 10 respectively. With these mentioned, Parañaqu

After finding out the truth about the lack of a law for the public transportation use of e-vehicles in Parañaque, I walked out of the building and as I moved on further on City Hall grounds, I saw two electric tricycle units (made by Star 8) on display at an environment-oriented exhibit. I pictured the more elaborate e-trike (the one above).

Wow. Think about that. Electric tricycles on display in a city that does not even allow electric vehicles to be used to serve commuters publicly.

Before I forget, let me state that the City Government was celebrating the 18th anniversary of Republic Act Number 9003 which is the national law on ecological solid waste management which itself emphasizes care and responsibility of the environment.

Now when will Parañaque’s officials start working to legitimize e-vehicles for public transportation? If you are a certified city resident who wants to see those fuel-burning public utility vehicles be replaced gradually with e-vehicles, consider taking time out to write letters to the city government officials. Even though there is an upcoming democratic exercise in the form of a local election on May 2019, communicating with your officials is still recommended.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this article, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format.