Colorum PUVs in new LTFRB-7 chief’s radar

CEBU, Philippines — The newly-installed chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 yesterday vowed to continue the campaign against colorum public utility vehicles (PUVs), warning their operators to “watch out.”

LTFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto, a retired soldier, said that while there are inherent risks to his job, he promised to keep the drive as part of the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to crack down on colorum vehicles and their operators.

In fact, he said, there was time a grenade was thrown into his office back in Zamboanga City which luckily did not explode.

Montealto served for about 16 months there and his adminsitration, he said, apprehended almost a hundred colorum vehicles.

In Central Visayas, including Cebu, he would like to maintain the same intensity in the campaign.

Montealto succeeds former LTFRB-7 director Ahmed Cuizon who is now assigned in Central Luzon.

Cuizon expressed optimism that his successor can maintain or even surpass his accomplishments as regional director of Central Visayas.

“All our programs will surely be accomplished by our competent, highly efficient, well-motivated and very hardworking new LTFRB regional director,” said Cuizon during the turnover ceremony yesterday.

LTFRB-6 Director Richie Osmeña, who was present during the ceremony, said he and Montealto will join forces against colorum vehicles.

“Maghiusa mi aron dakpon gyud ning mga colorum. We know og asa ni sila dapit. Expect more apprehensions. Di lang sa ko mosulti og asa ni sila kay mamahawa na niya sila,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said that for the past 16 months as regional director, he has apprehended more than 400 colorum vehicles Western Visayas.

Colorum vehicles are those that do not bear the LTFRB-required markings and case numbers. Colorum taxis, for instance, have no top light, taxi meter, and trade name. As for buses, routes are not indicated.

Meanwhile, Montealto urged the public to report to his office or to the 8888 hotline those jeepney drivers who are engaged in "trip cutting."

He said operators of jeepneys found cutting trips will “surely be penalized” and the licenses of drivers will be suspended or revoked by the Land Transportation Office. (FREEMAN)