Transport Coops in Cagayan de Oro City Face Doubts from Drivers and Operators
As the final deadline for transport consolidation in Cagayan de Oro City arrived on April 30, there were doubts expressed by drivers and operators of jeepneys regarding the effectiveness of transport cooperatives in the region.
Joel Gabatan, the chairperson of the United Drivers Association (Unida) in Cagayan de Oro City and a former leader of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), voiced skepticism about the current model for transport cooperatives. He believed that the leaders of these cooperatives lacked the skills needed to successfully run, manage, and sustain the modernization plan.
While Gabatan clarified that they were not against the modernization of the transport sector, their main concern was the consolidation of transport operators, who had to surrender their franchises to the cooperatives.
Amidst these doubts, the government was urged to audit the current cooperatives to prevent potential failures in the modernization plan that could negatively impact former jeepney drivers and operators.
At a Mindanao transport summit, cooperative leaders from various regions opposed extending the consolidation deadline. However, Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 10 Director Abosamen Matuan emphasized the importance of accepting new membership applications and not charging excessive fees to potential members.
Challenges such as the lack of knowledge about establishing and running a cooperative were acknowledged, and the need to equip transport cooperatives with technical know-how and necessary knowledge was highlighted post the April 30 deadline.
Cooperative leaders were also urged to establish common standards and practices to ensure quality service and safety across different transport cooperatives in Mindanao.
The charging of high membership fees by some cooperatives was also questioned, with concerns about the susceptibility of the cooperative system and structure to potential abuses.
Overall, there were calls for auditing existing cooperatives before proceeding with the consolidation deadline to prevent failures and ensure the success of the modernization program in Cagayan de Oro City.
