Crackdown on colorum buses; parents warned

Operators of colorum school buses found to be fetching schoolchildren from their homes to their schools will be penalized, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said yesterday.

Regional LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said in yesterday’s 888 News Forum that schools who haven’t registered their school buses or vehicles with their office may be held liable if parents filed cases against them in case of accidents.

“It is better for them to accredit the franchise of their (school vehicles) to be used by students in LTFRB,” Cuizon said.

Operators of these vehicles should secure a recommendation from the school in their application for franchise.

These vehicles should comply with safety standards and pass road worthiness tests.

In Cebu City, there are 234 registered units with 29 in Mandaue City, 31 in Talisay City and 26 in Lapu-Lapu City.

Regional Director Raul Aguilos of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said they will conduct random checks in all schools in Cebu as part of their Oplan Ligtas Biyahe, Balik Eskwela Program.

Colorum vehicles will be impounded by LTO and drivers will be fined P6,000 and suspended for three months, Aguilos said.

Cuizon said they impounded 20 colorum school buses last year.

About 60 new registrants and new franchises were recorded in Cebu.

Cuizon warned parents not to have their children ride colorum vehicles since they don’t have accident insurance.

Habal-habal drivers that fetch school children would be penalized if they accommodate more than their seating capacity of two persons.

Drivers will be fined P1,778 for reckless driving, Cuizon said.

For their part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu station urged universities and schools to fetch their students from the provinces at the port areas.

“We are encouraging more schools to offer their school buses in fetching their students at piers,” PCG chief Winiel Azcuna said. With Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos