THE Land Transportation Office Davao Region said strategic plans are being crafted for the strict apprehension of colorum public vehicles in order to achieve "the first colorum-free region" in the country.
LTO-Davao director Gomer Dy, in an interview with SunStar Davao, said there are still colorum public vehicles operating in the region despite the consistent and recent monitoring and assessment done after the suspension of northbound UV Express vans in the city last June.
Although there is a decrease of apprehended colorum public vehicles observed by the office from January to July this year with only 12 apprehensions, Lawyer Dy said the regional offices of LTO and LTFRB are still on the hunt for the remaining colorum vehicles to achieve the first zero colorum record nationwide.
LTO will partner with the Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in the region and the Davao City Transport and Traffic Monitoring Office (CTTMO) for this initiative.
Last year, LTO Davao Region apprehended 43 colorum vehicles from January to July.
Dy added that most of the apprehended vehicles this year were vans and taxis from Mati City, Cotabato City, and Cagayan de Oro City.
"The problem with these vehicle owners is that they keep on buying vehicles, specifically vans for business but they do not get franchises from LTFRB," he said.
Dy also said their office is also having a problem in apprehending these vehicles as colorum drivers are coordinating with each other every time they suspect LTO officers monitoring along the roads.
He added that part of the strategic plan being made is to consider using unnamed vehicles during apprehending operations and random change of routes.
"I am reminding all vehicle operators to register your vehicles and have it franchised. It's easy," Dy said.