TOMECO answers questions of MCHs and PUJs police number printing

TACLOBAN CITY – The Traffic Operation Management Enforcement and Control Office (TOMECO) clarified the issue covered in implementing new rule that concern in printing the police number on motor-cab-for hires (MCHs) and Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) in the city.

Jobs Lagutan, TOMECO information officer, explained the reason why they imposed this rules on PUJs and MCHs operators in the city.

He said this would determine which are the colorums and which are not, so they can easily identify those which are legally operating. Secondly, this is to give justice and consideration to the MCH operators who follow rules and regulations being imposed by the TOMECO Office,Lagutan said. He added that the rule is for the safety of the MCH drivers and the passengers.

He also said that the rule sets the uniformity of printing from color to size, width and length.

“For example, if a passenger forget and left something on the MCH and PUJs and even victimized an incident of hold-up, harassment, any other crime by MCH and PUJs divers, its very easy for passengers to identify what MCHs or PUJs they were on board and with this they can immediately locate or run after those MCHs and PUJs, “ Lagutan said.

Lagutan also answered on the clamor of some MCHs and PUJs drivers that the TOMECO is just making money out of this printing of police number. He emphasized that they have a very affordable fee for the printing of police number on MCHs and PUJs because of the discounts given by the proprietors.

“We charged on printing just only P200 where P100 from it will be for the stickers and another P100 goes to the printing materials and payment for the painter while if they can have it outside they will pay up to P400.00,” Lagutan explained.

He said that this will not even add to their expenses, in fact it will lessen their burdens because the cost is very cheap.

Lagutan said that they want to have control, records and data base about all their transactions on MCHs and PUJS.

He also said that this is in accordance with the provision of the Ordinance 2000-01 which includes the painting, size and reflector stickers.

However, Lagutan stressed his gratitude to those MCHs and PUJs drivers and operators who follow the regulation of TOMECO without any complaint and thank those those who questioned their actions because it serves as their reminder to be honest on their job.

“We cannot force them or dictate them to follow the directives of TOMECO, it’s up to them whether they like it or not we will continue to impose this new rules to the MCHs and PUJs because this is not for the good of just one but for the betterment of everybody and the entire Tacloban,” Lagutan disclosed. (NOEL SEVILLANO TALACAY)