DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and MMDA acting chairman Don Artes lead the signing of an agreement that will pave the way to the creation of a joint task force that wil run after colorum vehicles in Metro Manila. (photo: MMDA)

The national government has stepped up the campaign against colorum vehicles in a bid to put a stop on the illegal operations that affect 35 percent of the daily income of legitimate transport operators and drivers.

On Wednesday, April 17, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has forged an agreement with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that would pave the way for the creation of a Joint Task Force (JTF) to curb down colorum operations.

MMDA acting chairman Don Artes said the JTF will be in charge of the crackdown on colorum vehicles, as well as coordinate and collaborate in the conduct of traffic, clearing, and all kinds of anti-colorum operations within Metro Manila.

“Members of the JTF will have the authority to determine transportation violations within the NCR and will have the authority to use and issue violation or citation tickets. They will also be deputized by the DILG, the DOTr, and/or the MMDA when necessary,” said Artes.

On the side of the Philippine National Police (PNP), DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said the coordination and cooperation will be done through the police’s Special Project Group

The JTF, which will be comprised of the MMDA, DOTr, and the DILG, through its Special Project Group of the Philippine National Police (DILG-SPG), will coordinate and collaborate in the conduct of traffic, clearing, and all kinds of anti-colorum operations within Metro Manila.

Artes emphasized the importance of the alliance of government agencies, especially in cases of bullying and harassment from violators.

“These agencies decided to formalize the partnership to ensure faster, smoother, more orderly, and more apprehensions, pursuant to the President’s order,” said Artes, referring to President Marcos order to launch a crackdown on colorum vehicles as part of the effective traffic management in Metro Manila and other areas.

Abalos, for his part, said that they have been intensifying the anti-colorum operations in the past months.

From March 12 to April 15 alone, he said a composite team of MMDA and the DILG apprehended 56 colorum vehicles, collared 44 out-of-line public utility vehicles, and impounded 100 colorum vehicles.

 “This is an effective collaboration with the DILG, MMDA, DOTr, and the PNP. Given the number of apprehensions for just a period of one month, we can probably yield more than 1000 colorum vehicle apprehensions for a year,” Abalos said.

“We have observed that those apprehended tend to harass or bully the operations team, but with the presence of the DILG-SPG, some have behaved,” he added.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said that the Joint Task Force is one of the solutions to help legitimate operators and drivers supporting the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

“Through this partnership, we can help those who are operating legally who claim to lose 35 percent of their revenues due to colorum vehicles,” Bautista said, adding that the crackdown of colorum vehicles will help in resolving the traffic in Metro Manila roads.

“If we can decrease 90 percent of colorum operations, this is of big help to the legitimate transport operators and a huge relief to the usual traffic flow,” said Bautista. 

Bautista likewise warned that those who will fail to consolidate after the April 30 deadline that they will be considered colorum and will be among those who will be apprehended. 

“We will conduct joint operations to apprehend colorum vehicles, not just those who illegally operate, but also those who did not comply with the consolidation,” Artes said for his part.