The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has launched a nationwide crackdown on reckless public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call for stricter road discipline.
LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III on Tuesday said the agency is coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and local governments to identify and penalize drivers endangering public safety.
“The President is right. This has to stop,” Guadiz said. “These drivers are a threat to public safety, and we will take them off the road.”
The move followed viral traffic incidents involving so-called “kamote” or stupid drivers on Commonwealth Avenue and in Valenzuela.
Guadiz warned that franchise holders who fail to manage their drivers face administrative charges and possible suspension. The LTFRB is auditing operators with repeated violations and may revoke franchises.
“Public transport must be safe. That’s non-negotiable,” he said, adding that more field inspectors will be deployed to monitor violations.
The LTFRB is urging commuters to report reckless drivers through its 24/7 hotline 1342 or its official Facebook page.
Meanwhile, the LTO–National Capital Region (LTO-NCR) reminded the public not to patronize “colorum” vehicles, especially during the Holy Week travel surge.
The warning came after a safety inspection Monday at Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, led by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and LTO-NCR Director Roque Verzosa III.
Colorum vehicles — unauthorized or unregistered public transport units — pose major safety risks, Verzosa said. “They do not undergo proper inspections and are not covered by insurance,” he noted.
LTO-NCR emphasized four risks of using colorum vehicles: compromised safety standards, lack of accountability, unfair competition, and legal penalties including impoundment and fines.