Intensified drive vs. colorum vehicles, PUVs set next week

CEBU - The operatives of the PNP Highway Patrol Group-7 are scheduled to conduct starting next week an intensified campaign against colorum vehicles, including public utility vehicles caught operating outside of their respective areas of franchise.

During the meeting of the members of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association the other day, some of the bus operators have complained of colorum vehicles operating in their areas of coverage affecting their business.

“Tungod sa reklamo sa ubang bus operators, mohimo mi og operation karong sunod semana aron aksyonan ang ilang report,” Simplicio Torredes, HPG-7 operations officer, said.

Torredes explained that although the public utility buses have been issued with franchise by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, they are not allowed to operate outside of their franchise areas.

The FREEMAN learned that some persons who own private vans, like Mitsubishi L-300 and other similar vehicles, are operating in a “colorum” manner by allowing passengers to take a ride in their units and demanding fares similar to the amount collected by legitimate vans-for-hire.

Meanwhile, Torredes announced that the HPG-7 operatives would be glad to give a lecture-seminar to drivers, especially on defense driving and the proper attitude while driving.

“Kun masayod sila sa mga lagda sa tukma nga pagmaneho og sakyanan sigurado nga malikayan g’yod ang mga disgrasya sa kadalanan,” Torredes said.

Torredes mentioned of 1,164 traffic-related accidents that took place in various places of the region from September 23 to October 23 and that most of these happened during nighttime.

Further, overspeeding and the bad conditions of roads are the other most common causes of road accidents. – Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)