Taxi firm told to explain "errors"

CEBU, Philippines - The regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is now investigating the possibility that some taxi operators in Metro Cebu are using “colorum” vehicles.

LTFRB 7 regional director Ahmed Cuizon has ordered the manager of KEN Transportation Inc., owner of KEN Taxi, to explain in writing within 48 hours from yesterday noon why some of their units do not have matching body numbers and plate numbers based on LTFRB records.

“We have received reports from our meter men as to discrepancies in body numbers painted in your units. Explain to us within 48 hours,” Cuizon told the manager of the taxi company in a letter.

Maricor Castañares, the operations manager of KEN Transportation Inc. personally received the letter when she went to the LTFRB-7 office yesterday.

She declined an interview pending the submission of her written explanation to the LTFRB on Monday.

Cuizon explained that the discrepancies were uncovered when the firm’s 312 units were inspected by the LTFRB personnel for testing and sealing of meters last January.

Twenty-six vehicles owned by KEN Transportation Inc. were found with discrepancies such as differences in the actual license plate number on the vehicle and the number in the LTFRB records. There were also vehicles not in the list of those granted franchises.

The taxi with plate numbers GXJ-923 has body number 3045, but according to LTFRB records it should have plate numbers GXR-712. 

The taxi with body numbers 3047 is recorded at the LTFRB as having plate numbers GXM-487 but during the inspection it had plate numbers GXM-467.

Another unit with body number 3053 had plate numbers GXM-646 when it ought to have plate numbers GXM-437 as per LTFRB records.

“Dili g’yud magpareho ang body numbers sa duha ka taxi kay gi-assign man kana sa lainlaing mga units,” Cuizon said. There are more than 6,000 taxi units that have been granted franchises to operate in Metro Cebu.

Cuizon ordered the manager of KEN taxi to explain the deficiency involving taxi units with body numbers 3045, 3047, 3052, 3007, 3012, 3018, 3025, 3030, 3077, 3094, 3119, 3146, 3152, 3203, 3208, 3209, 3256, 3258, 3260, 3275, 1503, 3009, 3072, 3156, 2565 and 3053.

He instructed LTFRB-7 hearing officers Evelyn Misal and Rey Elnar to handle the investigation and to submit the results as soon as possible.

Cuizon’s predecessor Benjamin Go also discovered some anomalous activities at the LTFRB reportedly involving some of its officials who illegally granted franchises to taxi operators.

Despite the existing moratorium on the issuance of new taxi franchises some taxi operators have been granted additional franchises that allow them to operate more units.

A team of special investigators from the LTFRB-Manila went to Cebu City to investigate the case, but until now the results of the probe are not known. (FREEMAN)