1,000 PUVs flagged down since start of ‘Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok’

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has flagged down about 1,000 public utility vehicles (PUVs) since the start of “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign of the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic last Monday.

Amid complaints that the MMDA was too strict on the campaign, MMDA Undersecretary Tim Orbos on Thursday defended their campaign saying the violations committed by PUVs and their drivers were obvious.

“Hindi po kami strikto. Simpleng simple lang po yung aming [policy]. Kitang kita naman po eh: mausok, kalbo yung gulong, walang ilaw, lahat naman po yan eh. Basic common sense na nga lang pinag-uusapan diyan eh,” Orbos said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

(We’re not strict. Our policy is very simple. You can easily see it: smoke belching, the tires are worn out, no lights, all of it. We’re talking about common sense here.)

Orbos also said that upon inspection at night, they have noticed that all jeepney drivers were not using their lights for unknown reasons.

“Lahat po ng jeep na nakita namin sa kalye, lahat po ay walang ilaw sa gabi. Kapag naman pinatigil mo, may ilaw naman pala. Hindi ho namin alam bakit nila pinapatay,” the traffic official said.

(All the jeeps we see on the road, all of them have no lights at night. When you stop them, then they will turn their lights on. We don’t know why they keep it off.)

More than 200 PUVs were flagged down during the first day of full implementation of the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign on Wednesday. In addition, five drivers were given 24 hours to appear before the Land Transportation Office for further inspection on their impounded vehicles. /je