LTFRB-7 ready to sanction erring personnel

CEBU, Philippines - Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 director Ahmed Cuizon assured he will immediately impose sanctions on his erring men if proven they were involved in the preparation of questionable taxi franchises.

Cuizon reacted to the statement of Maricor Castañares, operations manager of KEN Transportation Inc., which owns and operates 312 taxis in Metro Cebu. Castañares said there were instances that the record section personnel made errors that resulted to discrepancies in their franchise documents.

The LTFRB-7 officials are presently investigating the discrepancies in the franchise of 26 KEN taxi units. These units’ actual plate numbers are different from those in the records of the LTFRB, including its assigned body number.

According to Cuizon, the allegation of Castañares is also possible and if proven that the personnel of the records section made mistakes, “I won’t hesitate to implement reforms in that section.”

“If they made mistakes, I don’t want to defend them. They must measure up to acceptable standards of competency and efficiency just like any professional public servants. Either they shape up or ship out,” Cuizon said.

The LTFRB-7 director said last January that he already relieved four personnel because of various reasons.

“I will not hesitate to change employees if needed. I will do it again if necessary to further introduce office reforms and improve public service,” he added.

But as of Friday, LTFRB hearing officers Evelyn Misal and Rey Elnar has not yet finished their task to investigate the case involving KEN taxis.

Castañares, however, admitted that it could also be possible that in some of their units they were the ones who committed mistakes, but she vowed that it was not intentional.

At present, she added KEN has 312 units in 84 franchises and their personnel are just human and “we cannot expect them to be perfect at all time especially in dealing with sets of numbers that are nearly identical with the others.”

“These mistakes were not tainted with malice and without intention to defraud the good office of the LTFRB to the prejudice of all taxi operators,” Castañares said.  (FREEMAN)