Transport groups hail DOTr Sec. Bautista, LTO chief Mendoza for anti-colorum drive

Major transport groups in the country on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor D. Mendoza II for their aggressive action to finally put an end to the illegal operation of colorum public utility vehicles (PUVs).

In a statement issued by the "Magnificent 7", the group said the current aggressive anti-colorum drive is an answered prayer for the long years of their complaints and own battle to address the problem that has been affecting the daily income of legitimate drivers and operators across the country.

"Inaasahan ng mga legitimate transport groups yung nawawalang 30 percent sa aming hanay ay mababawi sa seryosong kampanya ni Assec Vigor D. Mendoza II at Secretary Jaime J. Bautista laban sa kolorum," the statement read.

This developed as Mendoza ordered the deployment of more "mystery" colorum drivers to ensure the integrity of the implementation of the aggressive operations against the operation of colorum PUVs.

Mendoza also expressed gratitude to the transport groups for their commitment to provide mystery colorum drivers whose task is to give the LTO leadership all the necessary information on what is happening on the ground following the order of Bautista to further intensify the operations against the illegal operations that are affecting the daily income of legitimate PUV drivers and operators.

"Our aggressive drive against colorum PUVs will come with the effort on the part of the LTO to ensure the integrity of this campaign. Hindi dapat maging oportunidad ito para sa mga tiwaling tao para sa anumang extortion activities," Mendoza said.

On Sunday, Mendoza ordered the relief of six LTO traffic enforcers and the filing of criminal and administrative charges against them that could lead to their dismissal from the agency.

At the same time, Mendoza also ordered a thorough investigation into the team leaders of the LTO traffic enforcers for command responsibility and gross neglect of duty.

"Walang second chance second chance dito. Kapag nahuli kayo, titiyakin ko. na tanggal kayo sa LTO dahil ang pangalan ng LTO at ang kabuhayan ng mga libo-libong mga matitinong kapatid natin sa transport sector ang nakasalalay dito ," Mendoza warned employees of the agency

Mendoza said the deployment of mystery colorum drivers will be done nationwide and will focus more on major urban areas of the country.

Earlier, Mendoza also deployed mystery applicants for driver's license and vehicle registration which was found effective in addressing the prevalence of fixers in all LTO offices in a short period under his leadership.