LTFRB issues SCOs vs ‘substandard’ PUVs

Operators of a bus and a taxi were handed show cause orders (SCOs) on Saturday by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (ltfrb) over noncompliance with vehicle protocols.

LTFRB chairperson Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said the vehicles were flagged in separate instances over the past week due to poor maintenance and substandard vehicle conditions.

The taxi was described as having damaged seats covered with rags, an interior considered “unsanitary,” and a driver who was not wearing appropriate attire to operate a public utility vehicle.

Meanwhile, the bus was spotted along the Quezon Memorial Circle last Thursday, 26 February, and was found to be in a condition that raised questions about its roadworthiness.

Mendoza said the operators were mandated to submit written explanations on why their respective Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) should not be suspended based on the agency’s findings.

He also ordered the operator of the passenger bus to present all of his units for inspection by the agency’s Technical Division on Saturday morning.

“It is clear that when you apply for a CPC, you commit to treating your passengers well. In this case, passengers are clearly being disrespected by the condition of these PUVs,” Mendoza said.

The operators face a fine of P5,000 under LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2011-004 if they fail to respond to the show cause orders.