LAND Transportation Office-Central Visayas (LTO 7) Director Victor Caindec confirmed that 656 social distancing violators have been caught by the agency since the implementation of the policy.
Some of the violations were failure to implement the one-seat-apart policy, failure to decrease the number of passengers in public utility vehicles by 50 percent and social distancing for motorcycles.
He said all violators were issued a Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) and should pay a fine of P5,000 each.
Together with the LTO 7 are the Philippine National Police and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 in apprehending the violators.
Drivers of five vehicles for hire (v-hire) were also apprehended by the LTFRB 7 for violating the anti-overpricing policy.
LTFRB 7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. said the drivers of the v-hires were following the social distancing and the “no mask, no ride” policies but failed to abide by the no-overcharging rule.
He said the v-hires were from Toledo and one of the passengers texted their office that the driver was asking them to pay twice the regular fare.
Montealto added that all the apprehended drivers were issued an inspection report summon and will pay a fine of P5,000 each.
He also requests the public and commuters to inform them if there are drivers who are not following the social distancing directive by sending pictures as proof, the date, time and the plate number of the unit or vehicle to their office or email. (JCT)