|
By Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter
THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) warns all
operators of illegal vehicles that they cannot avoid apprehension
even within the so-called Republic of Makati, which has lately
cracked down on erring taxi drivers.
Assistant Secretary Alberto Suansing, LTO chief,
issued the warning after receiving information about the rampant
operation of illegal vehicles, particularly taxis, in the city
allegedly being protected by some unscrupulous local traffic
enforcers.
Based on reports, even legitimate taxis are
charging passengers not by the meter, but by head, similar to that
of the FXs and vans.
Some public utility vehicles have violated
certain traffic rules without being apprehended because the
operation has the blessing of the local traffic enforcers of Makati
City, Suansing alleged.
“We [LTO] can operate anywhere, even within
the Republic of Makati,” Suansing said, adding he already ordered
the LTO enforcers to apprehend all illegal vehicles in the city.
Makati City, particularly its Makati Public
Safety Assistance Group (Mapsa), is known to be very strict in
implementing traffic laws in the city as enforcers are getting 20
percent for every traffic ticket they issue to a violator.
Traffic enforcers of the Metro Manila
Development Authority are barred from operating in the city, and
only Mapsa can enforce traffic laws and apprehend violators in the
city.
PUV operators and drivers have been complaining
about abusive Mapsa enforcers and excessive fines imposed by the
city government that, according to them, are anti-drivers.
“We are the ones that fall victim to the
abusive enforcers and expensive fines in Makati. Mayor Jejomar Binay
is claiming that he is for the poor and yet the traffic fines he
approved are too much,” a driver said.
Besides the illegal operation of taxis in the
city, the LTO will also stop the operations of habal-habal
(motorcycle for hire) in the city, that are also illegal.
Meanwhile, the Makati Police have apprehended 19
erring taxi drivers during their “Oplan Isnaberong Tsuper.”
Makati Police Chief Supt. Gilbert DC Cruz said
the operation was conducted in response to complaints about taxi
drivers who refuse passengers and charge extra or fixed amounts of
fares. Cruz ordered plainclothes operatives to conduct entrapment
operations against taxi drivers plying Makati’s thoroughfares.
Mayor Jejomar C. Binay of Makati has commended
the Makati Police for undertaking the operation, saying public
utility drivers should not be abusive and subjective in providing
service to passengers.
“We will not tolerate abusive and snobbish
taxi drivers in Makati. Taxis are public utility vehicles and, as
such, they must be fair in their dealings with the public,” Binay
said.
Penalties for violators include confiscation of
their licenses and issuance of Ordinance Violation Receipts with a
P1,000 fine.
LTO Chief Suansing will also focus its operation
in Quezon City where almost all kinds of illegal vehicles operation
exists. The local government, particularly its Department of Public
Order and Safety, has failed to get rid of the practice, including
the operations of tricycles along major thoroughfares.
“The LTO will address all these concerns even
with limited manpower. We will see to it that illegal vehicles will
be eradicated from the streets to ensure the safety of the riding
public,” the LTO chief said.
The LTO is in charge of manning some 220,000
kilometers of road networks nationwide, even if it has only 3,000
traffic enforcers.
|
