By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, June 19 (PNA) — Transport groups who joined early Thursday’s protest against the imposing of higher fines for traffic violations may have their franchises cancelled.
According to Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Winston Ginez, the board will be seeing it as a possibility after the burden it caused to a number of commuters.
In a statement by Ginez sent by Malacanang to reporters via text message, he said that a hearing will first be conducted before cancellation is considered.
“We will subject the franchise owners of public utility vehicles (PUVs) to a hearing and, if evidence warrants, we will cancel their franchise,” Ginez said.
On the first day of implantation of higher fines for “colorum” vehicles, the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have been inspecting documents of buses along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).
Reports showed that so far, majority, if not all buses have been responsible enough to comply with requirements.
Authorities are preparing for their next inspection which will come by surprise.
The DOTC-LTFRB joint administrative order imposes P1 million fine for buses, P200,000 for trucks, P50,000 for jeeps, P200,000 for vans, P120,000 for taxis, and P6,000 for tricycles for the first offense. (PNA)