THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) will seek the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen its aggressive campaigns against colorum public utility vehicles (PUVs) across the country.
According to LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and the PNP’s territorial units will be essential elements that will help boost the LTO’s anti-colorum drive.
The decision to mount an aggressive anti-colorum campaign came amid complaints from transport groups that they have been losing 30 percent of their income due to illegal operations of colorum PUVs.
“Matagal na itong reklamong ito ng ating mga kapatid sa transport sector kaya tayo ay hihingi ng tulong sa ating PNP upang madagdagan ang ating puwersa para matigil na ang ilegal na operasyon ng mga taong nasa likod nito,” said Mendoza.
In a recent meeting with LTO top officials, Department of Transportation Secretary (DOTr) Jaime Bautista lauded the series of successful operations conducted by the LTO in running after colorum PUVs, particularly in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
Bautista emphasized the need to sustain the operations as a way of assisting the transport groups recover their losses from PUV colorum operations.
“I know si Assec Vigor already implemented many programs tungkol dito, dapat nating ipagpatuloy yung enforcement, para mahuli yung mga colorum operators, kawawa naman yung mga legitimate transport operators, gastos ng malaki pero hindi nila magenerate yung revenue na dapat sa kanila dahil sa operations ng colorum.
“Through our effort, we can make their business profitable and sustainable,” he added.
Mendoza earlier ordered all LTO Regional Directors to intensify the campaign against colorum PUVs in their respective areas, which resulted in the apprehension of several colorum vehicles.
The LTO chief also initiated dialogues with transport groups who, in turn, committed to deploy volunteers as mystery drivers of colorum PUVs in order to ensure that the crackdown would not result in extortion activities.
As a result, at least six LTO enforcers were sacked from their posts and are now being investigated for extortion activities.
“Habang magiging agresibo ang kampanya natin sa mga colorum na pampublikong sasakyan, titiyakin din natin that this being enforced properly and with integrity on the ground,” said Mendoza.
(PHOTO CREDIT: LTO Facebook page)