AN OFFICIAL of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Northern Mindanao over the weekend said a show cause order will be issued to owners of impounded "colorum" taxi units this week.
LTFRB-Northern Mindanao Director Aminoden Guro said operators will be given five days to answer why they allow their units to ply the streets pending approval of their franchise.
Guro said over 10 taxicabs have been flagged down and impounded under the LTFRB's "anti-colorum" operation for taxi. At least seven units were impounded in Cagayan de Oro City last week.
"Kani sila dunay intention mo-apply og franchise. Ang ilang papers naa na sa atong opisina busa ato silang ipatubag ngano nga nagdagan na kini nga mga taxi bisan wala pa na-approved (They have intention to apply for franchise. Their papers are already in our office so we will let them answer why their number is growing despite not being approved),"Guro said.
Guro said his office has monitored a number of "colorum" taxi and received numerous complaints from legitimate operators.
"Ang atong himoon is i-legalize nato ni sila (We will legalize them)," Guro said.
The top official of the LTFRB-Northern Mindanao said because of allowing taxi to operate without authority, the operators' franchise application may not be approved but it is subject for appeal.
Aside from impounding the units, the LTFRB-Northern Mindanao may also penalize the owners to pay P120, 000.
"We will schedule a hearing and paminawon sa hearing officer unsa ilang explanation (...will listen to the explanation of the hearing officer). Kay nagdagan sila nga wala pay approval dunay possibility nga dli ma-approve ilang application pero subject for appeal (Because they are operating without approval, there's a possibility their application won't be approved but subject for appeal)," Guro said.
Guro said the LTFRB-Northern Mindanao is continuously conducting surprise operations against "colorum" taxis across the region, following clamor from the legitimate operators whose business was adversely affected.
