MORE than 40 erring drivers and operators in the provinces of Cavite and Laguna were cited for various violations in line with the government’s campaign against dilapidated public utility vehicles.
Members of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic flagged down and issued citation tickets against 44 PUVs for operating with defective car parts and other violations during their operation in Molino in Bacoor, Cavite, and Pacita in San Pedro, Laguna on Friday.
The I-ACT Task Force Alamid team composed of personnel from the Metro Manila Development Authority, Police-Highway Patrol Group and local government units also impounded five motorcycles with no government-registration plates and for illegal parking.
Task Force chief Manuel Gonzales said the result of the latest operation brings to 1,169 the total number of PUVs, tricycles and motorcycles apprehended since his team fully implemented the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” program last Jan. 8.
Gonzales admitted that more than 1,400 passengers were affected by the operations in Laguna and Cavite. He, however, said the commuters availed the free-ride services offered by the government using military trucks plying Pacita Complex (San Pedro) and Calamba, and Alabang (Muntinlupa City)-Pacita routes.
“There is a phase we are going through and there are changes. We need to change our old ways to new ways. Convenient, safe and modernized. We are just enforcing what we need to do. We need to be firm because this is for the welfare of the majority,” said lawyer Aileen Lourdes Lizada, I-ACT spokesperson.
Apprehended PUVs are obliged to undergo Motor Vehicle Inspection System test at the Land Transportation Office main compound in Quezon City.
The vehicles will all go through five stages of inspection procedure at the MVIS Center, which include the testing of brakes, suspension, speedometer, and headlights.
The MVIS is used to test road-worthiness of public conveyances in line with the PUV modernization program initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Failure to pass said inspection test which consists of sixty points test of roadworthiness will result in the suspension of their franchises until they pass the said exam.
The government will be spending P843 million to jump-start the nationwide implementation of the program.