CEBU CITY – Thirteen colorum vehicles were impounded as the Land Transportation Office-Central Visayas (LTO-7) intensified its crackdown on vehicles illegally operating as public utility vehicles (PUVs).
LTO-7 regional director Glen Galario said the 13 vehicles were apprehended during random roadside inspections in Cebu City, Talisay City, and Minglanilla, Cebu from September 19 to 21.
THE Land Transportation Office-Central Visayas (LTO-7) impound a multicab illegally used as a public utility vehicle. (LTO-7)
Impounded vehicles were eight vans, three utility vehicles, and two multicabs.
Their operators and owners were also cited for violation of Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01.
The crackdown on colorum vehicles is one of the prime directives of LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, said Galario.
“As one the regions in the country with the most vehicles, we have heightened the conduct of law enforcement operations against these colorum vehicles," said Galario.
Mendoza issued the directive on September 7 after a meeting with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista who instructed the agency to focus ensuring the safety of the riding public.
“This has long been a problem that requires attention and sustained operations to ensure that only those granted with permits could operate,” Mendoza said in a statement.
In its anti-colorum campaign, LTO-7 is closely coordinating with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Philippine National Police through the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), and the different traffic units
in the region.
"We will continue our operations against colorum vehicles with intensified efforts from our enforcement officers, we will also strengthen and randomly conduct checkpoints at the strategic areas in the region, and we will surely continue our collaboration with other agencies," said Galario.