Drivers urged: Report PUJ children carolers

To stop children from hopping into jeepneys to go caroling this Christmas season, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Region 7 issued a memorandum for drivers to report these carolers to authorities.

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said the memorandum aims to ensure that the commuters are safe and not inconvenienced by these carolers.

Carolers, mostly children, board jeepneys at random and perform musical numbers or read religious messages then solicit money from passengers.

They tell passengers they are not robbers or snatchers but Cuizon said these statements can serve as implied threats that coerce passengers into giving money.

“Apart from the inconvenience that these carolers and solicitors bring to the riding public, the manners in which they operate on board PUVs also cause hazards both to themselves as well as to the drivers and passengers,” Cuizon said.

Cuizon asked the drivers to report these carolers immediately to the LTFRB Region 7 office through hotline number 231-6221 or mobile number 0923-681-3201.

The public can also contact police hotline 2336705 or cell phone number 0926-515-1828, citing the date, time and place of the incident as well as other related information.

Cuizon said the LTFRB-7 and the PNP will coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Land Transportation Office, barangay officials, the anti-mendicancy bodies and traffic management offices of local government units and other concerned agencies and organizations for appropriate action. Correspondent Fe Marie D. Dumaboc