LTFRB urges passengers: Help us run after erring PUV drivers, file complaints
At A Glance
- LTFRB spokesperson Ariel Inton explained that errant drivers are emboldened to violate existing laws on passenger welfare, including discrimination and overcharging of fares, since most of the victims would not pursue charges against them
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged passengers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) to help the agency run after erring drivers simply by filing complaints.
LTFRB spokesperson Ariel Inton explained that errant drivers are emboldened to violate existing laws on passenger welfare, including discrimination and overcharging of fares, since most of the victims would not pursue charges against them.
“Let us do away with that mindset of letting these abuses pass. Our mandate here in the LTFRB is to protect commuters and we have already proved that we are serious in doing this with the show cause orders we issued and sanctions we imposed in the past weeks,” said Inton.
“But we know we have to do more. That is why we ask our kababayan to fle the complaints because that is one of the ways we would be aware of these abuses that must be addressed,” he added.
On Saturday, LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III warned PUV drivers against charging fares based on passenger size following an incident involving a person with disability who was forced to alight from a passenger vehicle over the discriminatory remarks of the driver.
Inton said the PWD was not able to get the necessary information about the driver and the passenger vehicle and this is the reason why the errant driver was not punished.
He then cited a case wherein a passenger was able to file a complaint after a PUV driver sped off without giving the change. The driver was immediately penalized after the complainant submitted details that led the LTFRB to track him down.
Inton urged passengers who experience or witness any form of overcharging, discrimination and other offenses to immediately report incidents through the LTFRB hotline 1342.
He said the complaints could also be reported to the LTFRB official social media pages, or by email at [email protected].