MMDA nabs 127 'colorum' vehicles

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has nabbed and impounded 127 out-of-line, colorum or unfranchised trucks and buses and 14 Asian Utility Vehicles (AUVs) as of last Sunday following its “Operation Disiplina” operations that started on August 6.

 

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) chief, Crisanto Saruca said the operators of the nabbed vehicles were also slapped with a P6,000 fine and the vehicles impounded for three months at the agency’s impound area in Barangay Tumana in Marikina City.

 

Earlier, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the operations primarily target buses entering Metro Manila from the provinces without proper franchises as well as “colorum” and other out-of-line public utility vehicles (PUVs) and trucks.

 

Tolentino added that the drive against colorum and out-of-line vehicles has helped ease traffic flow along the Metro’s major roads, including EDSA. 

 

On August 16, the MMDA also joined the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in an intensified crackdown against trucks bearing green or private license plates and enforced the P200,000-fine for such trucks under the joint administrative order no. 2014 (JAO).

 

 The MMDA and the LTFRB had earlier clashed over the issue of colorum vehicles in Metro Manila after the LTFRB allowed private “for hire” trucks or those using green license plates to operate using provisional authorities it had issued.

 

Under the JAO, the operator of a colorum bus will be fined P1 million with the apprehended vehicle impounded for a minimum of three months. The operator of a colorum truck will be slapped with the P200,000 fine with the truck being impounded for three months. The operator of a colorum jeepney will be made to pay a P50,000 fine and the jeepney impounded for three months. The operator of a colorum taxi will be made to pay a P120,000 fine and the unit impounded for three months. The operator of a colorum AUV meanwhile will be slapped with a P200,000 fine and the van impounded for three months.  

 

LTFRB chairman Wintson Ginez earlier reminded operators of private “for hire trucks” now operating using LTFRB issued provisional authorities that they have until October 17 to secure franchise for  their units. He also reminded owners of “for hire trucks” with green license plates which operate without provisional authorities from the LTFRB that their units will be apprehended.

 

Ginez said private “for-hire” trucks were given by the LTFRB until last August 15 to secure their provisional authorities to operate. Operators of apprehended private trucks will be made to pay the P200,000-fine stated by the JAO.