By Judy G. Quiros
DAVAO CITY, (PNA) — A joint composite team from Davao City’s transport agencies have apprehended over 300 vehicles for various traffic violations in five days.
Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB 11) administrative officer Edgar Violan confirmed on Monday that the apprehension started on October 15 after Mayor Rodrigo Duterte trained hus ire against overspeeding drivers, particularly “uso-uso” public utility jeepneys (PUJs).
He said the team is composed of operatives from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), LTFRB, Highway Patrol, and Traffic Management Center.
Violan said the apprehensions were made following reports on various traffic violations committed by erring drivers, among others, overspeeding, overloading, illegal downloading and uploading, and defective lights.
The licenses of the apprehended drivers were also confiscated, he said.
Meanwhile, LTFRB 11 has also uncovered some 40 ‘uso-uso’ PUJs in Toril district suspected of using truck engines in their jeepneys.
The said 40 uso-uso units were already endorsed to LTO for investigation, Violan said, adding that it is LTO that has the authority to act on complaints against said public transport vehicles suspected of operating using truck engines in their PUJs.
He said LTFRB has already advised drivers and operators of said 40 uso-uso units to present their vehicles to the LTO for rigid inspection and investigation.
If found true, the operators and drivers will be required by LTO to change their engines otherwise they will face stiff sanctions like revocation of license and franchise and ordered to stop operation.
Violan is proposing the organization of the composite team into a Task Force unit to strengthen the drive against erring drivers and operators.
The composite team that undertook the recent apprehensions was created on October 14.
Violan said with a Task Force, the task and mission of the group will be institutionalized and strengthened.
He said he will raise the proposel in one of the group’s regular meetings.