Palace ‘overrules’ LTFRB on colorum
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—In the end, it was the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s truck ban that prevailed.
Malacañang on Thursday said Cabinet members and concerned agencies agreed to take the following steps to address the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila:
(1) Apprehend and fine “colorum” or illegal and out of line buses on Edsa and Metro Manila; and
(2) Continue to rationalize the route of provincial and city buses through the assessment of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in coordination with the MMDA.
Although Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma did not answer whether the agreement effectively repealed the LTFRB’s recent “no apprehension policy” for colorum trucks, he said what was important was the consultation of stakeholders.
Coloma said the steps, which were agreed upon by LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez and MMDA chair Francis Tolentino, would be further discussed with the mayors of Metro Manila next week.
The LTFRB and the MMDA have been trading barbs for the past several days because of the said “no apprehension policy,” which allegedly goes against current traffic laws in Metro Manila.
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