Unregistered vehicles, ‘colorum’ PUVs to be impounded starting February

MANILA, Philippines — Unconsolidated public utility vehicles (PUVs), which will be considered “colorum” past January 31, will be impounded if drivers continue to ply their routes after the deadline, said Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Atty. Vigor Mendoza II on Wednesday.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, on December 27, issued a memorandum allowing unconsolidated PUVs to be on the streets until the end of January only.

But Mendoza clarified that the impoundment does not apply to unconsolidated or colorum PUVs only but to unregistered units as well, both public and private.

“Unregistered tsaka colorum [ang huhulihin sa February 1],” said Mendoza in an ambush interview

(Unregistered and colorum vehicles will be apprehended starting February 1.)

Mendoza also clarified that unconsolidated PUV operators may still apply to join consolidated groups where they will receive special permits to ply their routes continuously.

“‘Pag sumali sila sa consolidated groups, mayroon silang special permits [kaya] hindi automatic ‘pag unconsolidated, huli na sila,” he clarified.

(When they join consolidated groups, they will have special permits, so it’s not automatic that if they’re unconsolidated, they will be caught.)

The LTO is also already in talks with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to deploy more manpower in the impoundment of unregistered and colorum vehicles starting February 1, he said.

Mendoza likewise mentioned that the LTO will open impounding areas in Pasay City and Calabarzon.

“Mayroon tayong bubuksan na impounding area sa Carmona [Cavite], mayroon tayong bubuksan na dalawang ektaryang impounding area dito po sa MOA [Mall of Asia] area. Nasa [Region] IV-A po ako kahapon, mayroon tayong bubuksan na impounding area dito po sa Lipa, San Pablo, at San Pedro. Tingin namin sapat na iyon,” he said.

(We will be opening an impounding area in Carmona, [Cavite], and we will also be opening a two-hectare impounding area here in the MOA (Mall of Asia) area. I was in Region IV-A yesterday, and we will be opening an impounding area here in Lipa, San Pablo, and San Pedro. We believe that should be sufficient.)

Furthermore, the LTO is also set to expand its impounding areas in Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

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