Transport strike participants may lose franchise

LTFRB building. Screengrab from ltfrb.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Thursday said public utility vehicle owners who took part  in the transport strike may lose their franchise.

“We will subject the franchise owners of public utility vehicles to a hearing and, if evidence warrants, we will cancel their franchise,” LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said in a statement sent by Malacañang.

Ginez also confirmed that higher fines will still be implemented despite the protests that left thousands of commuters stranded in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Under Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01, the fine for “colorum” buses or those operating without proper authority from the LTFRB was increased to P1 million. Trucks and vans will have to pay P200,000 and jeepneys P50,000. Meanwhile, vehicles caught will be impounded for three months.

Transport groups, including Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide’s (Piston), described that the new order as “unreasonable, oppressive, confiscatory, and contrary to due process of law.”

“JAO 2014-01 did not undergo a correct process for enactment. One public consultation is not enough to ratify the said order. In truth, majority of the stakeholders who attended the consultation expressed their objection to the draft of JAO 2014-01,” a joint statement said.

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