LTFRB orders phase out of 13-year-old or older UV vans

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) -- Operators and drivers of utility vehicle express in Camarines will have to stop conveying passengers if they are still using old-model passenger vehicles. Pursuant to the latest ruling of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), it prohibits passenger vehicles aged 13-years-old and more from operating.

LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2012-0217 and 2012-030 reiterate the mandatory phase out of old UV Express units in all parts of country to ensure the road-worthiness of the vehicles and the safety of passengers.

Tamban Van Operators and Drivers Association Treasurer Leous Andal said that they will follow the LTFRB order since they were already informed that the said regulation will take effect on January this year.

She further said that it is already stipulated in the circular that they have to acquire new units of van in their next renewal.

But like other van organizations in the province, Andal said that they would also like to request for a one or two-year extension before LTFRB decides to fully implement the order. She said that not all operators can afford to buy new units and dispose their old vehicles quickly.

But, since 2007, operators and van owners already knew about the substitution of units and the discharge of the old ones as public conveyance system, stated Arnel Sebillo,engineer and LTFRB OIC.

He said that this year, they will already refuse renewal of franchise of operators still using old-models.

Based on the records of LTRFRB, there are 291 utility vehicle express plying the routes of Naga, Balatan, Bula, Del Gallego, Goa, Iriga, Lagonoy, Libmanan, Nabua, Pasacao, Ragay, Sabang, Sipocot, and Tamban in Tinambac.

Goa to Naga routes has the highest count of UV Express numbering 42 units, followed by Iriga City with 36 and Pasacao with 34.

There are 256 UV Express units traversing the Daet-Naga, Daraga-Naga, Iriga-Legaspi, Legaspi-Nabua, Legazpi –Naga and Naga to Tabaco City via Sabloyon, with the Daet-Naga route having the highest number of said vehicles numbering to 98 units. (MAL/LSM-PIA5, Camarines Sur)


Comelec in CamSur conducts mock elections, generally successful

By Analiza S. Macatangay

 IRIGA CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) -- Signal interference and lack of enough power supply were only two of the glitches observed yet generally successful, mock elections conducted in the four precincts here in Camarines Sur over the weekend, according to the Commission on Election (Comelec).

Comelec Camarines Sur Spokesman Alex Marpuri said Iriga Central School and Iriga City North Central School served as voting polls for four precincts in Iriga City covering barangays San Roque- Sta. Teresita and San Nicolas with 200 respondents while in Bato, barangays San Juan and Tres Reyes served as polling places for a hundred respondents.

Marpuri observed that generally the activity was successful with only few problems in receiving the signal from the communication networks and the lack of electricity particularly in the municipality of Bato.

"Almost 91 respondents from Iriga City were able to participate in the mock elections while in Bato, we had 58 percent response from our chosen respondents. We can attribute the low turnout in Bato since the place is actually far, with a mountainous terrain and the electricity was out even before started the exercises," Marpuri said in an interview.

The mock elections started at 7 a.m. and wrapped up at around 10 a.m. Marpuri said they were able to transmit the results at the provincial and Central Office at around 2 p.m.

The exercise endeavors to check the accuracy of the Precinct Count Optical Scan or PCOS machines in transmitting the actual data encoded and fed by the voters in the said machine.

Respondents were also entertained when they saw the names of foreign celebrities written as their choices for senatorial line up and name of various bands to represent the choices for party lists.

Marpuri added that the mock political exercise gave them significant learning that would be beneficial during the actual polls. For one, the problem in communication signal should be addressed now to avoid delayed in transmittal during the actual elections which could mar the timeliness of the results. The lack of electricity can be backed up by stand by batteries or generators.

Camarines Sur is one of the 10 areas in the country and the venue identified for Luzon where the mock election will be conducted to test the capability of the PCOS machines, most especially its accuracy and efficiency in transmitting the data. Formerly owned by Smartmatic, the PCOS machines are now owned by the Commission on Elections. (LSM-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)