‘Days of illegal terminals numbered’

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said yesterday that the days of illegal terminals are numbered as the agency will soon launch a crackdown to help ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

LTO chief Roberto Lastimoso noted that many public utility vehicles (PUVs) have turned the roadside into terminals, aggravating the traffic problem in the metropolis.

"We’ll crack down on illegal terminals. We cannot tolerate this practice. Their days are numbered," he added.

According to Farly Viola, LTO information officer, the agency will be coordinating with local government units (LGUs) because the LTO has no jurisdiction over some illegal terminals.

"We have jurisdiction on the road but we can’t do anything when the terminal is on the roadside. For this program to succeed, concerned agencies should work together," Viola said.

Under the present set-up, transport organizations are required to secure permits from the LGUs when they put up terminals.

It has become the practice of many PUV drivers, however, to stay on the road while waiting for passengers, contributing to the problem.

This is the common practice of FX Mega taxis which are franchised to operate like the sedan taxi. But FX taxis are, instead, taking in passengers to their full capacity and charging fares on a "per head basis."

"We hope to stop this practice so that vehicles can move faster," Viola added. – Sheila Crisostomo