W. Visayas transport groups hold protest vs ‘unjust’ fines

ILOILO CITY—Transport groups in Western Visayas will hold a protest caravan on Wednesday against what they consider exorbitant and unjust fines and penalties imposed for various violations.

Associations of drivers and operators of public transportation under the Western Visayas Transport Coalition will hold the caravans in Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique and Negros Occidental to call for the stopping of the implementation and review of Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01.

The order issued in June last year by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Department of Transportation and Communication revised and raised penalties and fines on violations of laws and regulations governing land transportation.

Nick Dalisay, president of the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Associations, said the caravan would be joined by operators and drivers to protest the “excessive” fines and penalties.

Severe penalty

Dalisay cited the penalty for broken or nonfunctioning signal lights which has been pegged at P5,000 for the operator and P1,000 for the driver. The penalty was P375 for the violation before the JAO 2014-01 was issued last year.

He said the penalty was “too severe” for a driver who earns from P200 to P400 per day and also for operators.

Edgar Salarda, coordinator of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide-Panay said their protest is not to justify violations but against the amount imposed by the government agencies.

The fines under the JAO range from a minimum of P1,000 for minor violations to P1,000,000 for major offenses.

Salarda pointed out that signal lights could suddenly malfunction while the driver is already plying his route even if the lights had been earlier checked.

Perfecto Yap, president of the Association of Taxi Operators in Panay, said fines especially those concerning the absence or malfunctioning of vehicle accessories should be reconsidered.

“In many instances, signal and other vehicle lights malfunctioning without warning because of our bad roads,” he said.

Yap also said that order was issued “without proper evaluation” and consultation with transport groups in the country. He emphasized there are other provisions in the JAO that they agree with.

Assembly points

In Iloilo City, vehicles joining the caravan will assemble at the public transportation terminal in Barangay (village) Mohon in Arevalo District before passing the main streets of the city and proceeding to the transport terminal in Barangay Tagbac in Jaro District.

Red ribbons would be tied and placards posted in the vehicles, according to Salarda.

The protesters will then proceed to the LTO regional office in Barangay Tabuc Suba in Jaro District where they will hold a short program and press conference.

The other groups supporting the protest include the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center, Hugpong Capiz Transport Alliance, and Federation of Aklan Integrated Transport Inc., as well as transport organizations in Antique and on Guimaras Island.