LTFRB apprehends 3 vans for operating without franchise

CEBU, Philippines - Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 enforcers have apprehended three vans that were allegedly been operating without a franchise.

LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said two of the vans operate as school transport units without any authority from his office.

LTFRB-7 imposed a fine of P200,000 for each van, which they have impounded. The vans will only be released three months after their owner or operator pays the fine.

Isidro Tumulak, LTFRB-7 spokesperson, said the third vehicle was a tourist van that they apprehended at a mall in Mandaue City after it was caught ferrying passengers.

"Dili siya pwede mo pick-up og pasahero kay tourist van man siya. Dapat pakyaw gyud unta ning iyahang van. Pero among  nasuta nga namasahero gyud siya ug matud pa sa mga pasahero, tag P40 ilang plete padung sa Liloan," said Tumulak.

Since the tourist van has a franchise, it was only slapped with a fine of P6,000 and an additional P4,000 for some minor violations.

Cuizon said that the van owner already paid the P10,000 fine so the unit was not impounded.

He said, though, that the fine served as first warning. For second offense, the franchise of the tourist van will be revoked.

"Unya og ang operator sa van pwede siya ma-disqualified as an operator of a public utility vehicle," Cuizon said. (FREEMAN)