53 ‘colorum,’ out-of-line PUVs caught

MANILA, Philippines–A total of 53 public utility vehicles (PUVs) found  operating outside their designated routes or without a valid transport franchise have been impounded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The out-of-line and “colorum” vehicles were apprehended in the first three days of the agency’s campaign dubbed “Oplan Disiplina” aimed at easing traffic flow on Edsa and other major thoroughfares.

The crackdown kicked off on Aug. 6, two days after the agency and its policy-making body—the Metro Manila Council composed of the 17 mayors in the metropolis—announced in a resolution their intention to enforce their respective traffic regulations despite the recent memorandum circulars issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

In particular, they criticized the LTFRB for its “no apprehension policy” toward colorum trucks effective from July 29 to Aug. 29 and its order allowing provincial buses to once again pass though Edsa to get to their terminals in the metropolis.

Following a meeting in Malacañang last week, the MMDA and LTFRB agreed that the owners of unauthorized cargo trucks would have until Aug. 15 only instead of Aug. 29 to secure a provisional authority from the transport board. Those without the required document would be apprehended and penalized, they also announced.

In an interview during the agency’s Sunday radio program, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office officer-in-charge Cris Saruca said that of the 53 impounded vehicles, two were colorum Asian Utility Vehicles while the rest were passenger buses that were either operating outside their designated route or without a valid franchise.

According to Saruca, the owners of the impounded vehicles were fined P6,000 each while their drivers would be banned from driving for a week.

During the first day of the implementation of Oplan Disiplina last Wednesday, MMDA traffic enforcers led by Chair Francis Tolentino caught 12 out-of-line and 3 colorum buses on Edsa Balintawak and in the White Plains area in Quezon City, he added.

The following day, 15 out-of-line buses from Cavite, Batangas and Pangasinan provinces were apprehended on Edsa southbound corner Roxas Boulevard. Saruca said these buses were not allowed to pass through Edsa and should have dropped off all their passengers at the South-West Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal in Parañaque City.

“During the third day of Oplan Disiplina, we were able to apprehend only seven out-of-line buses,” he reported, noting the drop in the number of errant bus firms due to the agency’s crackdown.

At the same time, Saruca warned that the MMDA would continue to go after colorum and out-of-line public utility vehicles this week.