A hefty fine as high as P1,000,000 awaits operators of colorum vehicles as the government vowed to further strictly impose the crackdown against unauthorized public transport vehicles to ease the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. made the warning on Thursday, April 18, following the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) by the DILG, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to create a Joint Task Force (JTF)that would address traffic woes and colorum operations problems in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“Napakalaki po nito, napakabigat po. Kaya warning na lang po, kung may colorum vehicles kayo, huwag na po kayong lumabas. Dahil siguradong mahuhuli kayo, mai-impound. At ito ay sinasabi mismo ng batas (The [fine] is very hefty, this is a big problem. This serves as a warning that if you have colorum vehicles, take them off the road. You will surely be caught and have your vehicles impounded. And that’s what the law states). We have to implement the law,” Abalos stressed.

Abalos explained that the JTF follows President Marcos' instruction to the DILG to lead in solving the issue of colorum vehicle operations and address the concerns raised by transport groups during a town hall meeting last April 10.

"The JTF likewise will conduct road-clearing operations and enhance traffic management and enforcement efforts within Metro Manila while member-agencies will have the authority to issue notices of violations and/or citation tickets as appropriate, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations," the DILG noted.

Abalos emphasized that the synergized effort of DILG, MMDA and DOTr, all mandated to promote public safety, maintain peace and order, and ensure the efficient flow of traffic, is beneficial and effective in addressing pressing traffic concerns, including colorum vehicles.

The DILG chief emphasized that the said cooperation among the three agencies led to the apprehension of 56 colorum passenger operations, 44 out-of-line operations, impounded 100 units to date, and arrested three persons in total.

To recall, Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 specified the fines and penalties for violations of policies governing land transportation, for first offense of colorum violation, buses shall be fined P1 million; vans and trucks with P200,000; sedan vehicles with P120,000; and, P50,000 for jeepneys.

Meanwhile, the second offense shall correspond to the revocation of the Certificate of Public Convenience; disqualification of the operator; blacklisting of all authorized units of the operator; and, revocation of the registration of all authorized units of the operator.

In accordance with the President’s order, Abalos said that colorum vehicles, which are contributors to the heavy traffic in Metro Manila, must be removed from the streets.

"Ang mga colorum na ito ang siyang nagpapadami ng mga sasakyan. Kaya ang utos po sa amin ng Pangulo ay gawin namin ang lahat upang maibsan namin ang traffic dito (Metro Manila) (The colorum vehicles increases vehicles on the road. The is why the President’s order to us is to do everything to decrease the traffic problem here)," Abalos explained.

Earlier, Abalos called on the local government units (LGUs) to strictly ensure that all public transportation services are operating lawfully in their respective jurisdictions.

Abalos stressed that the LGUs’ public transport system should have the appropriate franchises or certificates of public convenience (CPC) from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) before being allowed to use the transport terminals and ply their routes.

He issued the order after instructing the arrest of a woman who claimed to be his distant relative following the apprehension by authorities of her colorum vehicle driven by a man using a fake driver’s license. 

In DILG Memorandum Circular 2024-26, Abalos directed the LGUs, through their Sanggunians, to pass an ordinance banning colorum operators from using their transport terminals.

"This has been a persistent issue on the ground.  I am directing our LGUs na tiyaking hindi makapag-operate ang mga colorum operators na ito (to ensure that these colorum operators are unable to operate)," Abalos said.

Further, Abalos reiterated that “the LGUs should ensure all operating public transportation entities secure appropriate franchises or the CPC from the Land Transportation, Franchising, and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).’’

"CPC is an authorization issued by the LTFRB for the operation of land transportation services for public use as required by law," the DILG explained.

He also directed the LGUs to conduct routine inspections of public utility vehicles (PUV) in the terminals within their jurisdiction and along local roads through checkpoints and report colorum operators to the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

"At the end of the day, ang safety ng ating mga pasahero ang ating gustong mabantayan dito kaya napakahalaga na manguna ang ating mga LGU upang matigil ang operasyon ng mga colorum operators na ito (the safety of the commuters should be guarded that is why it is vital for the LGU to lead in ending the operation of these colorum operators)," Abalos pointed out.

At the same time, Abalos ordered the LGUs to promulgate more rigid regulations against unlicensed vehicles and their illegal operations based on the LTFRB and the DOTr guidelines and identify other measures in safeguarding public transportation within their areas of jurisdiction.