‘Flying Squads’ to secure commuters on barangay election day, Kalag-Kalag

The Land Transportation Office will deploy “Flying Squads” to ensure the safety of passengers who are expected to travel to various destinations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections and during the observance of All Saints and All Souls Days.

Engr. Bernardo Borromeo, LTO Talisay Extension chief, said that flying squads are being deployed by the LTO office to make sure that illegally operating public utility jeepneys/vehicles will be apprehended.

Borromeo said yesterday that flying squad personnel for the South paid his office a visit to inform him that they are now operating within the vicinity.

Another flying squad is also deployed at the northern part of the province.

These flying squads are tasked to apprehend overloading PUJs which are quite rampant in the event of an election or during the observance of the All Saints and All Souls Days.

Aside from overloading, they would also apprehend PUJs that overcharge and those without permit to operate outside their line, including taxicabs that won’t use their meters or won’t observe the use of the flag down rate.

Most importantly, Borromeo said, the flying squad will strictly monitor the presence of “kolorum” vehicles or private vehicles accepting passengers as these pose great risk to commuters.

These types of vehicles are not fit for commuters as these do not undergo the same tests undertaken by passenger vehicles.

“Kolorum vehicles,” if caught, will pay a fine of P1,578 on first offense.

Fines for other violations range from P228 to P1,078. – Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV