THE new leadership of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Northern Mindanao vowed to go after owners of public utility vehicles (PUV) who are operating without the necessary permits from the agency.
LTFRB-Northern Mindanao acting Regional Director Aminoden Guro said since he assumed office on September 1, he has been actively campaigning against the operation of the so-called “colorum” vehicles plying various routes in the region.
Guro was appointed by LTFRB Chief Martin Delgra following the early retirement of Mandangan Darimbang, who served as the regional director for Northern Mindanao for close to 30 years.
Guro said LTFRB-Northern Mindanao has already confiscated five for-hire vans which are now kept at the regional office’s yard.
The impounded vans were said to be plying the Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin, Baungon, Bukidnon, Iligan City and Lanao provinces routes but its drivers failed to show any permit to the agency.
When this reporter inspected the vehicles, two of the vans have “green” license plates signifying they were not to be used for public utility. The others have temporary plates.
Per government policy, only vehicles with “yellow” plates are designated for public use.
Guro said LTFRB-Northern Mindanao has already informed the operators of the apprehended vans of their offense and some of them have submitted their position paper in relation to the violation committed.
Guro said going after colorum vehicles is one of the marching orders of Delgra, adding they will continue to seize those PUVs that are operating illegally.
To prevent colorum vehicles from operating, he said the bureau is introducing the “tagging” system wherein they attach stickers on legitimate PUVs so they could monitor those who have not been issued franchise by the agency.
Guro said the tagging is expected to be finished in two to three months.
If found in violation of transportation laws, operators of colorum vehicles will be fined P50,000 for jeepneys, P120,000 for taxis, P200,000 for vans, and P1 million for buses, based on Joint Administrative Order-001 implemented by LTFRB and Land Transportation Office in 2014.
At present, the moratorium on accepting application for PUV franchise is still in effect, Guro said, as he urged operators not to operate without authority from the LTFRB.
There are around 14,000 public utility vehicles operating in the region, including jeepneys, taxis, vans, multicabs, and even trucks-for-hire.
