The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it is open to the idea of amending the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01, especially on the penalties imposed on “colorum” public utility vehicles (PUVs).
LTFRB executive director Samuel Jardin said the agency is amenable to adjusting the fines it has been imposing on PUV owners who are found violating the JAO. His statement came after Sen. Grace Poe said there was a need to suspend the JAO particularly on the penalties for “colorum” PUVs or those operating without a franchise permit or outside their franchise area.
Poe is the chairperson of the Senate’s public services committee.
Poe said the existing fine of P1 million for a “colorum” bus, for instance, is too much for the operators and drivers to pay.
Other penalties for “colorum” PUVs include, public utility truck, P200,000; jeepney, P50,000; van, P200,000; sedan, P120,000; and motorcycle, P6,000.
“Where will the [PUV] drivers get that kind of amount? This is illegal because it is not the law, it’s merely a Joint Administrative Order implemented by the then [Department of Transportation and Communication] which is still being in effect even until today. We need to revise this,” the senator told reporters on the sidelines of the public services committee hearing held at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines here recently.
Jardin said the LTFRB may consider Poe’s proposal, but added the agency may amend only the penalties for the “colorum” PUVs and not the entire JAO.
“We cannot just revise other portions of JAO like penalizing taxi drivers who engage in overcharging of passengers. We need to review [JAO] so that if there is an application for reduction [of penalties], we can grant,” he said.
Jardin said they may have to “revisit JAO,” issued in 2014 through the approval of Congress which authorized the Department of Transportation to implement it.
To avoid getting penalized, the executive director has urged operators to apply for franchise for their PUVs. (davaotoday.com)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
