Drive vs ‘colorum’ PUVs nets 10 buses

A total of 10 colorum passenger buses have been apprehended since the government imposed stiffer penalties on public utility vehicles (PUVs) operating without a valid transport franchise.

That would translate to a total of P10 million in fines for the various operators involved under the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01 of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) which took effect on June 19.

According to LTO Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan Jr., the 10 passenger buses caught by traffic enforcers were the following:

Two Bachelor Express buses in Region 10 carrying passengers from Butuan City to Cagayan.  One of the buses with temporary plate number 151010 was plying an ordinary route in violation of its excursion/special trip authorization and no registration papers could be presented to authorities. The other bus with plate number LYE 668 was also operating on an ordinary route in violation of its excursion/special trip authorization.

Buenasher Transport Corp. in Metro Manila with plate number PVH 460. The bus was plying Edsa with an expired franchise as its last extension of validity ended in January 2013.

Lucena Lines in Alaminos, Laguna, with plate number TYK 695. The bus had an expired vehicle registration as well as an expired franchise.

Jerel Transport Corp. (Sunrays Bus Lines) in Region 7 with plate number GWF 633.

Two Super 5 buses in Region 5, both carrying Manila-bound passengers. The bus with plate number PIA 826 was on its way to Manila from Surigao.  The other bus with plate number UVC 699 originated from Davao to Manila.

AOM Bus with plate number 051206 also in Region 5, carrying passengers from Naga City bound for Legazpi City.

Dalin Liner in Region 2 with plate number BVB-591 and Nelbusco, also in Region 2,  with plate number BVK 502.

“The LTO is serious in putting a stop to rampant violations of land transportation rules and regulations. As part of our reform program, one of our priorities is to instill orderliness in our roads for both public utility and private vehicles,” Tan said in a statement.

“These colorum buses have been impounded in accordance with JAO 2014-01 and the fines will go straight to the national treasury once paid. Let this be a warning to colorum operators.  The LTO will enforce traffic rules for the sole purpose of ensuring safety in land transportation,” he added.

Under the joint order of the LTO and LTFRB which was approved by the DOTC, colorum or PUVs operating without a valid transport franchise would be charged higher fines. Buses operators would be fined P1 million; trucks and van operators, P200,000; sedan operators, P120,000; jeepney owners, P50,000 and motorcycle operators, P6,000.

Meanwhile, a commuters’ group stood pat on its earlier decision to file a complaint against transport leaders who led a protest caravan that left at least a thousand commuters stranded in Metro Manila on Thursday.

In a text message to reporters, National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection (NCCSP) president Elvira Medina threatened to sue the caravan participants “for discontinuance of service as a violation of the [certificate of public conveyance].”

On Friday, Medina said that they would push through with the filing of complaints, not only with the LTFRB, but also in court, against the caravan leaders who staged the protest against the stiffer fines for colorum vehicles.

“We understand that [they] have freedom of expression. But we have to show everyone concerned that there are parameters in the exercise of your rights. They were already violating the rights of other people,” Medina added. With Jaymee T. Gamil