250 PUVs flagged down in campaign vs old vehicles, smoke belchers

More than 200 public utility vehicles (PUVs) were flagged down on the first day of “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign of the government, an official of the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic Administration (I-ACT) said on Monday.

As of 2:05 p.m. of Monday, Elmer Argaño, head of I-ACT’s communication and admin, said that a total of 255 violations were recorded along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) launched its campaign.

Transport Undersecretary Tim Orbos said that the on-road inspection of PUVs would be done thrice daily– targeting old vehicles and smoke belchers. One inspection, he said, would be conducted during night time to monitor those with lighting issues.

“Aaraw-arawin ho natin ito. Medyo mahirap dahil talaga hong malaki ang Metro Manila, pero kailangan po nating gawin,” Orbos said in an interview during the inspection.

(This will be every day. It’s a bit difficult because Metro Manila is big, but we really need to do this.)

A smoke-belching jeepney flagged down during the”Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign. CATHY MIRANDA/INQUIRER.net

“Wala itong deadline, walang timetable, gagawin natin ‘yan (This will have no deadline, no timetable, we will do this) every day,” he added when asked how long the agency would conduct the inspection.

Orbos said the DOTr would issue a subpoena against drivers who were apprehended for them to report to the Land Transportation Office within 24 hours for further inspection of vehicles. /je