The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Sunday committed to going after the operation of illegal terminals across the country, particularly in urban areas.

The declaration of an all-out campaign against illegal terminals came after LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II earlier announced that the agency is crafting a policy to prevent the renewal of franchises of unsafe and run-down public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“Sa napakatagal na panahon, laging binabalewala ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayang mananakay. This must stop and right now, we are initiating aggressive reform programs that will focus on the safety and welfare of the Filipino commuters,” Mendoza said. (“For a very long time, the welfare of our fellow commuters has been neglected. This must stop, and right now, we are initiating aggressive reform programs that will focus on the safety and welfare of Filipino commuters.”)

In most cases, illegal terminals are home to colorum vehicles and are a major source of corruption on the ground, according to Mendoza.

These terminals are also mostly located in unsafe areas with substandard facilities, where commuters have no protection from weather conditions, no clean and proper comfort rooms, and no comfortable areas for pregnant women, children, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.

This, he said, goes against LTFRB policy on how public transportation terminals must be set up, emphasizing that the safety and comfort of passengers must always be the top priority.

The LTFRB earlier explained that colorum vehicles have no insurance system, which could result in passengers and their families being left to shoulder burial and medical expenses in cases of road crashes.

“Our nationwide campaign against illegal terminals will not only focus on roadside and other makeshift structures. It will also cover illegal terminals in malls and other business establishments,” Mendoza said.

“Terminals that allow colorum vehicles to operate will not be accredited and their officials would be sued criminally,” he added.

Mendoza said the LTFRB will intensify monitoring with the help of mystery passengers who will be deployed to locate illegal terminals, especially in Metro Manila and other urban areas. He added that the agency will also coordinate with other government offices in locating illegal terminals and conducting investigations.

On the other hand, Mendoza said all LTFRB regional directors were ordered to conduct random and surprise inspections of all reported bus stations and PUV terminals in their respective areas of responsibility.

“We should not wait for the holidays to conduct inspections and let me make this clear, those who would not comply should expect consequences,” Mendoza said.

“Our operation will not stop at removing these illegal terminals. It will include investigations to hold accountable all those responsible for the maintenance and supervision of illegal terminals,” he added.

“Ang utos ni Secretary siguruhin ang comfort, safety and convenience ng mga pasahero,” Mendoza said. (“The Secretary’s directive is to ensure the comfort, safety, and convenience of passengers.”)

Mendoza advised all PUVs to use terminals duly accredited by the LTFRB.

“If they would support non-accredited terminals, then their franchise may be suspended and eventually be revoked,” he said.