Manila, Philippines — As part of the continuing campaign of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to provide commuters with decent, safe, and reliable transportation for their daily trips.
The agency will continue its crackdown on dilapidated and rusted public utility taxis and buses that are still operating on the roads to pick up passengers.
According to LTFRB Chairman Atty. Vigor Mendoza, this mandate is in line with the directive of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez to ensure that the public is provided with proper and reliable public transportation services.
During the two-month campaign and implementation of enforcement operations from June to July, a total of 226 taxis and buses operating in Metro Manila and nearby areas were apprehended.
Of the total number, 178 were units operating in Caloocan and Quezon City.
Most of these vehicles were reported to the LTFRB by passengers themselves.
The agency also immediately apprehended 48 buses during operations conducted along NIA Road, Robinson Antipolo, Monumento, and Mindanao Avenue.
Aside from this, LTFRB Chairman Mendoza has also been conducting surprise inspections to personally identify and apprehend taxis, buses, jeepneys, and TNVS units that are not fit for public service.
The operators of the apprehended public utility vehicles have now been issued show-cause orders to explain why their franchises should not be canceled or revoked, given the poor physical condition of their vehicles, which may pose risks of accidents, inconvenience, and discomfort to passengers.