THE LAUGHABLY INEPT DOTC

The government's plan to reinvent the passenger jeeps as well as to consider the lowering of the age limits of passenger vehicles from what appears to be 15 years for buses, 13 years for taxis and 10 years AUVs, multicabs and vans must have been the direct result of the P1.0B class suit that the Philippine Medical Association is poised to file against the DOTC for its continuing failure to clean the air in Metro Manila thoroughfares.  I doubt very much if this plan will really materialize as envisioned.

In the first place, one recalls that it was several years ago when a few passenger jeepneys run by either electricity or LPG were first seen in Makati.   We all know that up to now those few remains as few.  I also refuse to believe that the above cited age limits for passenger vehicles are being followed.  In the same token, it is odd that no age limit has been set for jeepneys to continue plying in our streets, even as, let's get real, they are the single highest source of pollution in our midst and times.  As a matter of fact, it is not far-fetched to speculate that there are still jeepneys that have been over 20 years on the run, and none of them is ever known to fail the ignition emission tests required by LTO prior to renewal of their registration.  Proof is, look at the information required by the LTFRB to be posed on all passenger vehicles, such as for example: LTFRB Case No. 90-0123.  That simply means that the jeep's franchise dates as far back as 1990 -- meaning 22 years ago as of 2012.  Worse, there are still not a few whose original registration  appears to be before 1990. Baka nga meron pang vintage World War II.  Is this the reason why there seems to be no age limit set for jeepneys?

Given these circumstances, methinks  the DOTC's plan "to reinvent the jeepneys" are only better said than done.  And so, I regret to say to Atty Nic Conti, DOTC spokesperson:  HUAG NA TAYONG MAGBULAHAN, KABAYAN!

And by the way, the DOTC is not only inept in its obligation to clear the air we breathe in our thoroughfares.  It also miserably fails to ensure full implementation of the Seat Belt Law.  Consider this:  Nowadays, most passenger jeepneys sport bucket-type front seats, cannibalized from old cars, which should now normally accommodate only one instead of two passengers.  Even then, no passenger jeep leaves the terminal unless two people, excluding the driver, are in the front seat.  Worse, only the driver wears a seat belt.  And even worst, jeeps using the expressway, such as those plying the Manila-Alabang route are allowed inside the expressway notwithstanding the expressway's warning sign at the entry point saying: WE IMPLEMENT THE SEAT BELT LAW HERE. If this is not disgustingly laughable, I do not know what is.   

Ala eh, mukhang minamalas si Mar Roxas in being assigned to the DOTC  at a time when he is beginning to  build blocks for his presidential ambition.  I know he is a good man, pero siya ang pinag-abutan!