All to ensure the safety of commuters.
During a press briefing last Thursday, February 19, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has intensified its campaign against unlicensed or colorum vehicles, as well as strengthened its roles in traffic enforcement, terminal inspections, and checkpoint operations.
According to official, the LTO continues to address the operation of unlicensed vehicles as part of its anti-colorum efforts that has since yielded in the apprehensions and impoundments of hundreds of vehicles in just over a three-day period.
“Simula noong February 9 hanggang 11 ngayong taon, umabot sa 353 na colorum na sasakyan ang nahuli ng LTO,” she revealed. “Sa nasabing bilang, 107 dito ay na-impound habang 246 ay isinailalim sa ‘technical impoundment’ kung saan ang mga plaka lang ng sasakyan ang kinukumpiska ng LTO.”
Aside from the anti-colorum drive, Castro said the LTO has formally deployed K-9 units to enhance and improve inspections at transport terminals and checkpoints.
In addition, a Mobile Command Center (MCC) has also been launched to ensure continuous traffic monitoring and strengthen road safety enforcement.
Equipped with real-time traffic monitoring screens, license plate recognition, and vehicle verification systems, the MCC will be able to determine whether vehicles are properly registered, stolen, or illegally modified.
LTFRB ISSUES SCOs AGAINST NON-COMPLIANT 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐔𝐕 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒
Meanwhile, for its part, another transport agency, the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued additional twenty-three (23) Show Cause Orders last February 13.
The said move followed inspections of PUV terminals and roadside locations to ensure compliance with franchise terms and conditions— which requires every PUV operator to have a sufficient and existing garage, compliant terminals, and roadworthy PUV units, among others.
With the continuous conduct of PUV unit and terminal inspection, Regional Director for the National Capital Region (NCR), Atty. Zona Russet Tamayo, urged operators to strictly comply with LTFRB policy issuances and reminds PUV operators to ensure roadworthiness of their units.
“LTFRB-NCR will conduct its random operations in different parts of Metro Manila in the succeeding days, hence, operators are forewarned to strictly comply with LTFRB policy issuances and franchise terms and conditions,” it added.
Following the release of 23 orders, the total SCOs issued by the board to PUV operators had also increased to 50 as of February 13.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION PUV TERMINAL OPERATION RULES
Following that, last February 20, the LTFRB held a public consultation meeting relating to operation of bus and other public utility vehicle (PUV) terminals.
During which, its Chairperson Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said they already issued invitations to as many stakeholders to maximize the discussion on how to ensure compliance and further improve PUV terminal operations across the country.
“The public consultation meeting will primarily focus on terminal requirements and accreditations. We also expect extensive discussion on sharing of best practices that could be adopted and replicated,” he said prior to the meeting.
Mendoza also emphasized the necessity of holding the publix consultation amid the ongoing crackdown on PUV terminals with run-down facilities across the country and according to its latest data, more than 240 bus and PUV terminals were inspected.
Out of that number, around 116 were found to be non-compliant on safety and comfort regulations set by the LTFRB. At least one of them was also issued with a cease and desist order, while several others face revocation of the authority to operate.
Among the common violations noted were uncomfortable and unsafe waiting areas, non-working and untidy comfort rooms, lack of accessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, insufficient safety and security plan.
“With the number of violators so far, we need to discuss this and come up with the best measures that are acceptable to everybody– but are based on the existing rules and regulations,” the chairperson told.
The LTFRB chief further stated that there is a need to discuss the matter with terminal managers and operators especially that regular random and surprise inspection of bus and PUV terminals will now be a new normal.
“This meeting is also proof na hindi lang tayo focus sa inspection, we are also trying to find ways in improving the services to the commuter with the help of as many stakeholders and transport groups and companies concerned,” he added.
