1,000 rundown, smoke-belching jeepneys caught

The Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) has apprehended more than a thousand dilapidated and smokebelching public utility vehicles (PUVs) under its “Tanggal Bulok Tanggal Usok” drive.

Latest figures from I-ACT show that since the campaign was launched last January 8, 1,169 PUVs had been pulled over for violations ranging from defective parts, illegally franchised or “colorum” vehicles, and for harmful emissions.

I-ACT said 842 vehicles were given ticket citations, 62 were impounded, and 265 subpoenas were issued for smoke-belching.

I-ACT has expanded its operations to Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Rizal where traffic is heavy.

“The TBTU campaign is being done in compliance with the President’s directive to get dilapidated and smokebelching PUVs off the streets,” I-ACT head secretariat Manny Gonzales said in a press conference on Tuesday.

“The government is serious about implementing the law. I appeal to jeepney operators not to let the colorum jeepneys ply through their routes.” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Assistant General Manager for Planning Jojo Garcia said.

I-ACT will deploy more city buses as an alternative mode of transportation for commuters that might be stranded due to the TBTU campaign.

A total of 15 buses will be prepositioned Thursday in Masinag area in Antipolo going to Montalban, Rizal, and Rizal-Cubao. These are the routes currently being served by jeepneys.

“We need to inform the MMDA, which we did already,” I-ACT spokesperson Aileen Lizada said in a text message to reporters. “MMDA, in turn, will inform the local government unit (LGU) concerned.”

The additional buses are on top of the 20 earlier deployed in various parts of Metro Manila.

Among the routes for the buses on special trips were SM North to Balintawak, MRT to Paramount Building in Quezon City, Bagbay to Sauyo in Novaliches going to Muñoz Highway, Pasay Rotonda going to Evangelista and Mall of Asia (MOA), and FairviewTaft and Fairview-Quiapo.

The special buses charge R10 for the non-airconditioned and R12 for the air-conditioned units. The deployment will be coordinated with the LGUs concerned, which will designate the bus stops.

Under the TBTU campaign, the council inspects the PUVs’ body (appearance), engine, lights, brakes, tires, horn, battery, and smoke emission to check their roadworthiness. Failure to pass the roadworthiness test will result in the suspension of the franchises of PUVs. (PNA)