MMDA, DOTr & DILG form joint task force vs colorum vehicles

The operation of colorum or unauthorized Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) has become so rampant that President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos, Jr. himself has ordered the crackdown on these illegal PUVs during the Bagong Pilipinas town hall meeting on traffic concerns that was held recently. The LTO has earlier announced its own anti-colorum campaign.

Heeding to the President’s directive, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), together with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), has created a Joint Task Force (JTF) to curb and penalize these colorum PUVs.

“This is an effective collaboration with the DILG, MMDA, DOTr, and the PNP. Given the number of apprehensions for just a period of one month, we can probably yield more than 1000 colorum vehicle apprehensions for a year,” said Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr.

Abalos also warned colorum drivers and operators of fines ranging from PHP 6,000 up to PHP 1 million, depending on the type of vehicle.

The JTF, which will be comprised of the MMDA, DOTr, and the DILG, through its Special Project Group of the Philippine National Police (DILG-SPG), will coordinate and collaborate in the conduct of traffic, clearing, and all kinds of anti-colorum operations within Metro Manila.

Abalos explained that the presence of DILG-SPG is an advantage to the operations, as having persons in authority provides a big impact during operations. “We have observed that those apprehended tend to harass or bully the operations team, but with the presence of the DILG-SPG, some have behaved,” he said.

Members of the JTF will have the authority to determine transportation violations within the NCR and will have the authority to use and issue violation or citation tickets. They will also be deputized by the DILG, the DOTr, and/or the MMDA when necessary.