Transport group pushes 2 LTO chiefs suspension

Complaint filed against  colorum  UV vans

By Nelson Bolos

PANIQUI, Tarlac — A transport group here sought the suspension of two district officers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and filed a complaint against “unabashed operation of colorum Utility Vehicle (UV) vans”.

(A colorum is a private vehicle used and operated as a public utility vehicle without government permit.)  

This came about as the Tarlac-Moncada-Gerona-Paniqui Transport Cooperative, Inc. (TAMOGEPA) submitted a letter-complaint to LTO Region 3 Director Marina De Jesus last Friday detailing the “unlawful operation of more than 160 colorum vans and their not being bothered by any law enforcement unit”, including the LTO district offices.

The TAMOGEPA complaint signed by its chairman Bernie Fajardo and concurred by the Board of Directors requested De Jesus to “immediately suspend the LTO head officers of the LTO Paniqui District office and the LTO Tarlac City District office for gross negligence in not acting against colorum UVs.”

Though not specified in the transport group s letter, those sought to be suspended from their posts were Paniqui LTO District officer RogelQuiambao and Tarlac City LTO Paniqui district office chief Estela Nicolas. 

According to the TAMOGEPA letter, more than 160 colorum white vans now fly their route line from Tarlac City to Moncada town since 2011.

TAMOGEPA is the biggest “legal transport group” north of the province with 112 member-units of Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) which requested De Jesus to “immediately apprehend and impound all white colored colorum UV express vans”.

Specifically assailed by the TAMOGEPA was the “colorum UV van group led by ex-policeman Eduardo Millado who applied for new franchise route line covering Tarlac City to Sat. Ignacia via Gerona Tagumbao Bridge for his 25-member units but their application remained unapproved”.

“Mula 25-member units noong nakaraang taon na nag-apply silang CPC, ngayon mahigit na silang 60. Marami sa kanila hindi man rehistrado at walang plate number. Conduction sticker lang ang meron sa kanila pero nagbibiyahe sila sa aming ruta,” said Fajardo.

Also identified as another group of colorum UV vans was the group “identified with the Paniqui-Gerona-Tarlac City Transport Association (PAGETA) whose original 25-member unit in 2010 granted with CPCs now have more than 100 members without CPCs”.

The PAGETA is headed by Hubert Salazar who is facing several Estafa cases for failing to secure CPC for its new transport group members who allegedly paid him P150,000 to P200,000 per unit.    

“These illegal public utility vehicles deprive us of our lawful means of living and are brazenly violating our laws on transportation”, also says the TAMOGEPA letter.

According to the Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 of the LTO and the Land Transportation Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the fine for an apprehended colorum vehicle (PUV without CPC) is P200,000 and impoundment of the unit.    

For his part, Cesar Absalud, TAMOGEPA  board of director and spokesman said, “nagbabayad kami taon-taon ng prankisa (CPC), sila walang prankisa pero hinahayaan silang magbiyahe araw-araw. Para saan pa ang mga batas kung ganito rin ang nangyayari?”.

The issuance of a CPC is regulated and administered by the LTFRB and a CPC application undergoes a tedious and costly procedure of deliberations and hearings.

“We are simply asking from you to implement the laws against the violators (operators of colorum UV vans) and act against LTO personnel who are blatantly neglectful of their sworn mandate and who made a mockery of the president s  Matuwidnalandas  policy right in his own home province”, also says the TAMOGEPA letter.

“Kung walang pagkunsinti at lagay (protection money) sa mga taga-LTO hindi dadaming ganyan ang mga colorum”, said a TAMOGEPA member who requested his name withheld for fear of reprisal.