By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Region VI (LTFRB-6) Director Richard Osmeña recently announced the United Negros Transport Cooperative (UNETCO) and their partner, Yellowdot Transport Inc., who recently unveiled their new Euro 4-compliant public utility vehicles (PUVs), are not yet permitted to operate in Bacolod City.
The LTFRB-6 official said his office has yet to receive applications from UNETCO or Yellowdot that would allow them to begin operating in the city.
Osmeña pointed out, he only learned about UNETCO and Yellowdot’s plans after they posted pictures and route plans on social media.
He said the firms should have gotten in touch with the regional office in order to secure all necessary permits.
Osmeña added, without the proper documentation, their vehicles would be considered “colorum.”
Earlier, UNETCO unveiled their new “modern jeepneys.”
“The people of Bacolod will witness the transition from the traditional jeepneys to the new and state of the art modernized jeep, which are environment-friendly, using the Euro-4 technology, [and] equipped with CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras, air-conditioned units, and cashless fare system,” UNETCO chair Marcelo Ochia explained.
Euro 4 refers to vehicles being in compliance with European emission standards.
The city currently has 25 units but, Ochia affirmed, “About a thousand more units are coming.”
Riding the modernized PUV will come at a cost as fares are P2 higher than the traditional jeepney.
With the anticipated influx of so many PUVs, various city government officials have previously blamed traffic congestion on the number of vehicles currently on city roads./DGB, WDJ