15 buses nabbed as MMDA's EDSA crackdown continues

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday apprehended 15 more illegal buses on EDSA as the crackdown on illegal public utility vehicles on the metropolis' major thoroughfare continued on its second day.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino reported on Thursday that as of noon, "Oplan Goliath" in Balintawak, Quezon City led to the apprehension of 19 provincial buses, a city bus, four taxis and four Asian utility vehicles (AUVs) that entered EDSA in violation of their franchises or for other offenses.

Friday's operation in the Balintawak and White Plains areas resulted in the apprehension of 12 provincial buses and three city buses.

According to the MMDA, many of the apprehended PUVs were “out of line” or had no franchises to ply the EDSA route. The apprehended provincial buses, said the MMDA, had franchises to ply provincial routes but were plying Metro Manila routes through EDSA.

The apprehended taxis were using improvised license plates, the MMDA said.

The vehicles were brought to the MMDA’s impound lot in Pasig City. According to the MMDA, the operators of these “colorum” vehicles will be fined P6,000 per vehicle.

Tolentino earlier said that should concerned government agencies fail to curb the operations of illegal PUVs, the MMDA and the local government units would be the ones to initiate a crackdown.

He added that local government units in Metro Manila should also be consulted by the LTFRB on the issuance of franchises to PUVs.