Lawmaker seeks P1-M fine for ‘colorum’ buses

MANILA, Philippines - A party-list representative is seeking a fine of P1 million for every “colorum” bus apprehended by the authorities to discourage unscrupulous operators from fielding illegal units and to decongest traffic in the metropolis.

Under House Bill 4086, Ang Partido ng mga Marinong Pilipino Rep. Jesulito Manalo also wants the owner or operator imprisoned for up to six years and for the driver to lose his license.

The present fine for an unauthorized bus is P6,000.

HB 4086 defines a colorum vehicle as one that is operating out of its authorized line, one that is not covered by a franchise, one with an expired franchise, and one whose chassis, engine and plate numbers are different from those registered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

 â€œOne of the patent causes of road tragedies is the unabated and blatant operation of colorum or unauthorized public motor vehicles, which are considered as menaces that further clog our roads,” Manalo said.

“With the increasing number of vehicular accidents that occur in the country, there is an urgent need to strengthen policies that the government implements to combat the proliferation of unauthorized public transport vehicles,” he said.

Bill 4086 provides that the owner or operator of a colorum bus would suffer the penalty of imprisonment of six months to six years, a fine of P1 million or both.

The LTFRB would be authorized to permanently impound the illegal vehicle.

The other proposed penalties are P200,000 for a colorum UV Express van, P125,000 for a colorum taxi and P50,000 for a colorum jeepney.

Manalo said these fines should discourage public utility vehicle operators from fielding illegal units and should result in less traffic congestion in Metro Manila and other urban areas.

He said a P1-million fine would be so prohibitive that a bus operator would not risk running a colorum unit.

He said the present fine is so small that the same operator would gamble fielding an unauthorized unit, since he would earn the fine in just one run along EDSA or Quezon Avenue.

The definition also includes a private vehicle that is operated as public transportation.

In most recent road accidents involving buses in Metro Manila and Bontoc, the LTFRB has discovered that the vehicles had different chassis, engine and even license plates that appeared in its records.

The LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office would enforce the proposed anti-colorum vehicle law. They may deputize other agencies, including the Philippine National Police, Metro Manila Development Authority and local government units.