LINGAYEN – The provincial board wants Gov. Victor Agbayani to create a task force that will look into the continuous illegal operation of hundreds of colorum vans plying different routes in Pangasinan posing serious risks to commuters.

Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino said the resolution approved Friday by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan seeks to “find alternatives to regulate vans for hire sans franchise” operating in the province, will be sent to the governor this week.

Lambino recalled that families of several Pangasinan students who died when the colorum van they rode (traveling from Dagupan City to Baguio City) fell off the cliff, failed to receive any compensation from the van owner all because its operation was not regulated and covered by a franchise.

“It’s not that we don’t want them to earn a living but we just want their operation to be legal and regulated,” Lambino said.

He said the continued proliferation of the colorum vans indicate that the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board has failed to enforce the law and the pointed out the intent of the resolution filed by Board Member John Agerico Rosario. “We want to see what’s the problem, the cause, and help provide solutions,” Lambino said.

The proposed task force seeks inclusion of representatives from different government agencies like the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB),  Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine National Police(PNP)  and provincial government.

Rosario has proposed the adoption of accreditation guidelines for private vans and vans for hire in Pangasinan whose operations he suspects are now controlled by a syndicate.

According to a board member who requested anonymity the LTFRB had stopped issuing franchises for vans for hire yet they are allowed to clandestinely operate “for obvious considerations to you- know- who”. He did not elaborate.

Rosario said the proliferation of these private vans and other vehicles has made them easy prey to unscrupulous parties who profit from their colorum status. – EVA

LTO running after
colorum vehicles

 LINGAYEN – The Land Transportation Office here has been chasing colorum vehicles out of the province’s highways in coordination with the Flying Squad of LTO Region 1.

LTO district chief Jovita Dion said the campaign is zeroing in on colorum passenger vehicles which include vans-for-hire bearing private plates that have proliferated in the province.

 Based on the reports of the LTO Flying Squad last week, a big number of vans-for- hire were impounded. The operators ofthese vehicles managed to redeem their vehicles and their registration upon payment of the required penalties.

The  penalties include P1,500 for the first offense, P2,500 for the second offense and cancellation of the franchise or the registration of the vehicle  for the third offense.

 Dion denied charges that the campaign was meant to harass the operators and deprive them of their source of income and affirmed that it was all a matter of law enforcement.

At the same time, she warned the operators of smoke emission testing centers to be vigilant and honest in their examination of motor vehicles as their certification is a requirement for the yearly registration of motor vehicles.

She said a task force was recently organized to inspect all smoke emission testing centers to ensure full compliance with the terms of their accreditation.

Dion assured operators that so long as they are following rules and regulations prescribed by the Department of Transportation and Communication and are not violating any law, they have nothing to worry about. – A.P.E. 

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