DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 June) – The Golden Valley bus apprehended last Saturday in Tagum City was the 11th unit apprehended for colorum operations nationwide and first in the Davao Region to pay much higher fines, from the previous P6,000 to P1 million.
The new penalty is imposed by the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01 of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
LTFRB-XI administrative officer Edgar Violan said Monday in a press conference at SM City Davao that the seized bus belonged to Golden Valley Bus Line Corporation, plying the route Davao City-New Bataan, Compostela Valley.
Violan said the apprehension report is being processed by the LTO. After due process, the bus liner will pay the imposable penalty of P1 million, and the unit will be impounded for three months, he added.
Under the joint order, the imposed penalty for apprehended buses is P1 million, for trucks P200,000, jeepneys P50,000, vans P200,000, taxis P120,000, and tricycles P6,000 for the first offense.
Since JAO No. 2014-01 was launched last June 19, 10 bus units were apprehended for colorum operations up to June 20, Friday, Violan said.
He cited that two Bachelor Express buses plying the Butuan-Cagayan de Oro City and Davao-Manila routes were among those apprehended.
Earlier, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte expressed his support to the new national policy, saying that it is about time to address the problem on colorum vehicles.
But Bayan Muna Rep. Karlos Zarate, also at the press conference, said the new policy is a “reactive” response and will cause problem to the riding public. He said long term solutions should be done, such as rationalization of penalties and lifting of moratorium of franchises.
He noted that the moratorium of franchise for public utility vehicles has been implemented since the administration of former President Fidel Ramos.
Violan said the LTFRB continues its regular inspections in terminals and garages for safety and stenciling, among others. He added that the region does not have inventory of colorum buses as they can only be caught in the streets.
