‘Colorum’ buses filling void in Cagayan alarm LTO

DRIVERS of GV Florida Transport Inc. wait at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for the thorough inspection of their bus units following a deadly accident in Bontoc town, Mt. Province, involving a GV Florida bus. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has expressed alarm over the rising number of buses illegally plying the Cagayan Valley-Metro Manila route in the wake of the suspension of trips of GV Florida Transport Inc., one of the region’s biggest bus companies.

Manuel Baricaua, LTO regional administrative officer, said LTO officials had noted the continued operation of “colorum” and “out-of-line” buses even after the government intensified a crackdown on violators of public transport laws.

“It has really become alarming, especially that this is being done by big bus companies with seeming impunity,” he said.

Baricaua said a shortage of buses was felt in key cities and towns in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya provinces that were serviced by GV Florida following the suspension of its franchise.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had suspended the operations of GV Florida for 30 days after one of its buses fell into a ravine in Bontoc town, Mt. Province, on Feb. 7, killing 15 people and wounding 32 others.

Investigation showed that the bus was plying the Manila-Bontoc route using a franchise that was in the name of another company, Mt. Province Cable Tours.

Citing reports from field enforcers, Baricaua said a number of bus companies defied the LTFRB by fielding buses in routes without franchises.

“It is possible that some operators will now take advantage of the lack of buses plying the Cagayan-Manila route these days and they will dispatch more buses even without proper permits,” he said.

He said a number of violations were observed on buses plying the route, among these swapped plates and engines, and buses operating in areas not covered by their franchises.

“Sometimes our law enforcers are just being lenient and just warn the drivers to comply with the requirements immediately. They have to [be considerate] on this matter, especially since bus travel these days has become a struggle for the public because of the absence of GV Florida,” he said.

Rodolfo Jaucian, head of the LTFRB Cagayan Valley office, backed Baricaua’s statements.

“The LTO has enforcement teams out there every day, so there must be a basis for the statement,” he said.

He, however, declined to provide data on bus franchises issued by the LTFRB in Cagayan Valley, saying inter-regional franchises, or those that ply across two or more regions, were beyond the regional office’s jurisdiction.

Jaucian said he also did not know whether special permits were issued by the LTFRB central office to fill the void left by GV Florida’s suspension.

Asked if the LTFRB Cagayan Valley office was supposed to be furnished a copy of the franchises issued, he said: “That should be [the case]. But we have not yet received any.”