THE Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO 7) impounded 13 colorum vehicles in Metro Cebu from Sept. 19 to Sept. 21, 2023.
The LTO 7 said the colorum vehicles it apprehended in September should serve as a stern warning to drivers and motorists that it is serious in going after colorum vehicles, or unauthorized public utility vehicles (PUVs) that operate without the required franchise from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
This crackdown was concentrated in Cebu City, Talisay City, and Minglanilla during a five-day period.
Of the 13 colorum vehicles that were intercepted, eight were vans, three were utility vehicles, and two were multicabs.
Penalty
Reynaldo Elnar, chief transportation development officer of LTFRB 7, told SunStar Cebu on Monday, Oct. 2, that colorum vehicles will be subject to impoundment, and their operators and owners will face penalties per Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01.
Penalties include P1 million for buses; P200,000 for trucks and vans; P120,000 for sedans; P50,000 for jeepneys; and P6,000 for multicabs.
The penalties collected in September went directly to the central office to support national government projects, including road repair programs.
In addition to the penalties, all colorum vehicles will be impounded for a minimum of three months.
Furthermore, both the vehicle registration and the entire certificate of public convenience associated with the colorum vehicle will be revoked.
‘Densely populated vehicle area’
LTO 7 Director Glen Galario, on Monday, reaffirmed the agency’s heightened efforts to enforce regulations against unauthorized vehicles, acknowledging the region’s distinction as one of the country’s densely populated vehicle areas.
On Sept. 7, following a meeting with Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II issued a directive instructing all regional directors to intensify their crackdown on colorum vehicles, which operate illegally as PUVs.
In an interview with SunStar Cebu, he explained that although inspections are conducted randomly, their personnel meticulously review essential documents, including registration, and franchise details, and conduct passenger interviews.
As part of their anti-colorum campaign, Galario said they are closely collaborating with the LTFRB, the Highway Patrol Group, and multiple regional traffic units.
“We will continue our operations against colorum vehicles with intensified efforts from our enforcement officers, we will also strengthen and randomly conduct checkpoints at the strategic areas in the region, and we will surely continue our collaboration with other agencies,” Galario said. (KJF)