Tarlac UV operators slam LTO, LTFRB inaction on colorum vans

Duterte urged: Fire execs 

By Mar T. Supnad

GERONA, Tarlac – Transportation service franchise holders here deplored the inaction of government on the unabated operation of colorum vehicles which reportedly rake in millions in profits.

“We too deserve attention from the government since we are paying our franchise and taxes,” members of transportation groups here stressed, after failing to get a response from Malacanang on their complaint against the more than 200 colorum UV vans operating in their franchised routes.

The Tarlac-Moncada-Gerona-Paniqui Transport Service Cooperative (TAMOGEPA) submitted a letter of complaint to President Duterte last August 12 but received no reply.

“Mahigit 2 buwan na ang aming reklamo sa mga colorum ngunit wala pa ring action ang Malacañang. Kailangang-kailangan din namin ang solusyon sa aming problema, hindi lang sana puro drugs ang binibgyan pansin”, said TAMOGEPA chairman Bernie Fajardo.

In their letter-complaint, TAMOGEPA members were asking the relief and investigation of all the employees of the Land Transportation Offices (LTO) in Paniqui town and Tarlac City and the LTO and Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) officers in Region 3.

“Tanggalin at imbestigahan ang lahat ng kawani sa LTO Tarlac City at LTO Paniqui District Offices sa kanilang pagkunsinti sa mga colorum at patuloy na pagtanggi na hulihin ang mga ito. lsama na rin po sana ninyo ang mga opisyales sa Region 3 ng LTO at LTFRB (na), sa kabila ng aming pormal na paghain ng reklamo sa kanila noong March 18, ay wala(ng) ginawa na mapahinto o mahuli ang mga colorum at sa pagkunsinti nila sa mga tiwaling kawani ng Tarlac LTO offices”, (Remove and investigate all LTO personnel in Tarlac and in the regional offices for not lifting a finger and their refusal to apprehend them. Include also the LTFRB, since despite our formal complaint before then last March 18, there is no action to stop the colorum operations) the TAMOGEPA letter to Duterte stated.

“Nagsimula ang mga colorum noong panahon ni PNoy (ex-President Benigno Aquino) at hanggang ngayon sa administrasyon ni Duterte protektado pa rin sila ng mga corrupt sa gobyerno. Kami may mga prangkisa at nagbabayad ng buwis taon-taon, sila (colorum) hindi nagbabayad sa gobyerno, pero kami walang proteksyon sa aming lehitimong  hanapbuhay”, lamented Fajardo, a former OFW who invested his earnings abroad on a jeepney which he himself drives daily.