Next target: Colorum tourist buses

CEBU, Philippines — Local transport leaders are asking the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas to also intensify their campaign against colorum tourist buses.

Ryan Yu, general manager of Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative, said that colorum tourist buses are bad for Cebu's tourism industry because tourist passengers will not be able to claim insurance benefits in case of accident.

"Yes, risky kaayo. We have to remember that kinabuhi ang atong gidala, aside from the fact na tourism is a major industry here in Cebu," Yu said.

He attributed the proliferation of colorum buses to the high demand for tourist transport and the very costly brand new units. Yu said that brand new tourist bus costs more than P6 million while reconditioned units cost between P2 million to P3 million.

LTFRB-7 regional director Ahmed Cuizon and LTO-7 director Victor Caindec both promised to intensify their campaign against colorum tourist buses next week.

"Next week mo-full blast ato operation. Giklaro pa namo sa LTO Law Enforcement Service  ang guidelines," said Caindec.

Cuizon said that apprehending colorum tourist buses is a work in progress not just in Cebu but in the whole region.

Julieto Flores, president of the North and South Bus Operators Cooperative, admitted that the operation of colorum tourist buses is been very rampant in Cebu.

"Daghan jud, mao sad nay angayan tutukan sa task force," said Flores.

A high-placed source told The Freeman that one of the operators of colorum tourist buses in Cebu is an influential person.

The source who requested anonymity urged the LTFRB-7 and LTO-7 officials to look into it.  Operation of a colorum tourist bus carries a penalty of P1 million under the Joint Administrative Order 2014-01. (FREEMAN)