Bohol groups ask LTO-7 to stop colorum operators

CEBU, Philippines - Transport groups in Bohol province have denounced the proliferation of colorum tourist transport operators numbering about 500, and urged the Land Transportation Office-7 to assign an LTO official who can strictly enforce the laws.

The groups requested Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres, via the office of LTO-7 regional director Raul Aguillos, to immediately cause the reassignment of LTO-Jagna district office chief Roland Ramos to Tagbilaran City.

Ramos has been known to have “an iron hand” in running after colorum units in LTO-districts where he has been assigned before, including Negros Oriental, and recently in Jagna, Bohol, they said.

The petitioners also wanted authorities to include in the crackdown the tourist transport operators and let them secure the necessary credentials in their operations.

Many transport operators in Bohol have either ignored or defied government regulations in operating transport units for tourists and eschewed accreditation requirement from the Department of Tourism, they said, adding that colorum units have been directly competing with legitimate and licensed operators.

The transport groups, numbering about a hundred, said Ramos is fit to implement the “cleansing process” of colorum units in Bohol, particularly Tagbilaran City.

Ramos however said he will wait for orders from the higher officials on this matter, but he preferred more in going back to the LTO-Dumaguete district office. (FREEMAN)