Public told: Don’t patronize ‘kolorums’

Guadiz also urged the agency’s regional directors to intensify anti-colorum operations in their respective jurisdictions as the government gave the agency ‘more responsibilities’

The land Transportation Franchising and regulatory Board on Tuesday reminded the public not to patronize “colorum” vehicles to ensure safe travels following the apprehension of 37 vehicles allegedly engaged in “colorum” operations in the National capital region.

lTFrB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz iii stressed that more colorum vehicles were apprehended in the Metro Manila Urban Transportation integration Study Update and capacity enhancement Program areas from September to December 2022 alone.

Vehicles apprehended during that period include those operating as premium taxis, private motor vehicles, regular taxis, tourist transport service or UV express, netting fines totaling more than P7 million.

Meantime, Guadiz also urged the agency’s regional directors to intensify anti-colorum operations in their respective jurisdictions as the government gave the agency “more responsibilities.”

He added that he has given the agency’s regional directors his trust and expects them to perform and deliver to the people the things that are expected from them by the agency, adding that they will “rise to the challenge” and live up to the tasks given to them.

“We were asked to handle tasks aside from traditional functions like franchising and fare matrix, but i believe we can live up to the expectations,” Guadiz said.

“We should rise to the challenge and show that the lTFrB, when given the opportunity, will deliver to the government those that they ask of us. That is my wish, and that is what we will do here,” he added.

Among the issues the lTFrB is currently handling include the Service contracting Program or the “libreng Sakay,” the eDSA Bus carousel, the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, the creation of more local Public Transport route Plans, particularly in the regions, and the expanded equity Program and the Fuel Subsidy Program.