To ensure the safety of the passengers, the Land Transportation Office yesterday in a joint operation with the City Traffic Operations Management and the Philippine National Police apprehended 233 questionable public utility vehicles.
Aden Belza, LTO chief for operations, said that they apprehended buses and taxis either operating without any registration or out of line.
Belza said that for the protection of the riding public, LTO will continuously operate against questionable public vehicles.
"Kay kaning mga colorum, out-of-line ug walay rehistro nga mga sakyanan ug simbako madisgrasya ang mga pasahero dili ni sila mabayaran sa insurance. Mao nang kaning amoang pagpanakop, sige na ni but we will not reveal kung kanus-a," Belza said.
Under Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, Section 5 provides that all motor vehicles and other vehicles must be registered and no motor vehicle shall be used or operated on or upon any public highway of the Philippines unless it is properly registered for the current year in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Belza added that they are intensifying their operations against unregistered and colorum vehicles to level the playing field for those public utility vehicle owners that are registered and are paying their taxes to the government.
"We are just leveling the playing field as well as for the protection of the riding public, we have to intensify our drive against violators," Belza said.
Belza said that a fine of P6,000 awaits out-of-line violators and colorum vehicle owners. If the unit is impounded, this would mean an additional P1,500 impounding fee per day.
Owners of unregistered vehicles will be fined P4,000. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP