LTO deploys personnel vs colorum vehicles amid crackdown on unconsolidated PUVs
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has committed to deploy what it described as sufficient number of its personnel amid the start of the crackdown on public utility vehicles (PUVs) that failed to consolidate into a corporation or cooperative as part of he modernization program.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier said that those that failed to comply with the April 30 deadline for consolidation is already considered as colorum.
LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said the deployment of the agency’s enforcers are aimed at ensuring that only legitimate drivers and operators are plying the routes.
“The deployment of our personnel will complement the manpower of the LTFRB as well as other law enforcement agencies which were tapped to assist in the enforcement of our anti-colorum operations,” said Mendoza.
“We will make sure that protocols in the conduct of operations are strictly followed so we are appealing to our brothers in the transport sector to assist us in the conduct of this operation,” he added.
Mendoza warned operators and drivers of colorum vehicles of the increased presence of LTO personnel on the roads for the benefit of the legitimate operators and drivers who are following the government’s regulations.
Transport groups earlier said that they are losing 30 percent of other daily income to colorum operators.
“Our operation is not only to help legitimate transport operators and drivers but also ensure the safety of commuters,” said Mendoza.
LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz said there are around 10,000 passenger jeepneys which failed to consolidate across the country—around 1,900 of them are in Metro Manila.
He advised those who were able to consolidate to post the first page of the consolidation document on the windshield or on the dashboard to prevent being flagged down by authorities amid the start of the crackdown on Thursday, May 16.