MMDA revives crackdown vs colorum buses

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday revived its crackdown of colorum or unregistered buses and Asian Utility Vehicles (AUVs) along EDSA under its “Operation Project Disiplina.”

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday,  MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said seven out-of-line provincial buses, a colorum bus and 10 AUVs were apprehended along EDSA at Balintawak while seven out-of-line buses were flagged down at White Plains in Quezon City.

“Hinigpitan natin yung anti-colrum efforts so lahat ng out of line huhulihin na natin so ngayon nakahuli na tayo ng 10 PUVs (along EDSA Balintawak) out of line na bus na wala dapat dito sa EDSA so tuloy-tuloy kampanya ang tawag namin “Oplan Project Disiplina,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said the intensified drive against these illegal vehicles would be of great help in helping ease traffic congestion along the metropolis’ major thoroughfares, particularly along EDSA.

The MMDA also reported apprehension of a cargo truck at Along white Plains on EDSA.  Trucks are banned from plying EDSA  from Magallanes in Makati to North Avenue in Quezon City.

MMDA Operations chief Emerson Carlos said the MMDA would also be flagging down trucks that would disregard the truck ban hours at the portion of EDSA past North Avenue. Carlos also said private trucks with green license plates which were issued provisional authority to operate by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will also be stopped and impounded.

According to Tolentino, the drivers of the apprehended PUVs were issued traffic violation receipts (TVR) while their vehicles were immediately brought to the agency’s impounding facilities in Barangay Tumana in Marikina City. The owners of the vehicles were also slapped with a P6,000 fine.

“Dahil meron ng resolution ang Metro Manila Council (MMC) na talaga naman nagpapasikip sa daanan so mga colorum huhulihin namin...starting today kasi nga sa sobrang traffic dahil pinapasok yung colorum kailangan ihinto na ito,” said Tolentino.

The MMDA along with the Metro mayors composing the Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Monday issued a resolution opposing the LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular No. 2014-09, which temporarily suspends operations against out-of-line PUVs MC No. 2014-10 which stipulates the implementing guidelines on the rationalization of routes for provincial and city buses; and Board Resolution 05, s. 2014 which states a 'no apprehension policy' for trucks for hire with green plates until August 29.