Crackdown on colorum PUJs begins February 1

MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II met yesterday with the agency’s regional directors ahead of the crackdown against colorum public utility jeepneys (PUJs) starting on Feb. 1.

The LTO is also coordinating with the Philippine National Police and local government units to augment the government’s law enforcers as the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) gave unconsolidated PUJs until Jan. 31 to operate, according to Mendoza.

“I expect you to come up with strategic measures and strengthen coordination with other law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to ensure the success of this campaign,” he told LTO officials.

Mendoza earlier gave assurance that the LTO is expanding impounding areas with the renewed campaign against colorum PUJs.

He maintained that the directive is in line with the LTO’s existing “no registration, no travel” policy.

The LTO chief noted that at present, there are at least 24.7 million unregistered vehicles.

“Over the years, the number of unregistered has increased. This would be the end of their good days; we will conduct relentless operations against them to send a message that the LTO is serious in this campaign,” he said, adding that the campaign includes private vehicles.

He disclosed that a number of mayors have already signified their support for the agency’s “no registration, no travel” policy.

Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) president Mody Floranda has said that Piston and Manibela are mulling another transport strike to oppose the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

Floranda added that a lot of possibilities could still happen between now and Jan. 31.

For the transport group leader, the threat of crackdown against unconsolidated PUJs would affect not only drivers and operators, but also – most especially – commuters.

Data from the LTFRB showed that a total of 313 routes within the National Capital Region (NCR) do not have any consolidated transport service entity.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III earlier said that unconsolidated jeepneys would be apprehended by