ALEGRIA TRAGEDY
THE operator of the ill-fated Toyota Grandia van that crashed on a roadside tree in Alegria town, and claimed the lives of seven Filipino-American medical missionaries last Jan. 20, may be meted a P200,000 fine and revocation of franchise.
This after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB – 7) told members of the Provincial Board (PB) that Inner J Tourist Transport is considered a colorum.
LTFRB- 7 Transportation Development Officer Reynaldo Elnar revealed during the legislative inquiry yesterday that Inner J failed to convert its franchise from private to public use.
“Our records show that since 2016, we were not able to grant them a franchise order. Therefore, they’re still considered private and colorum. Once you’re granted with the franchise, your CR (certificate of registration) must be transferred from private to ‘for hire’,” said Elnar.
He explained that Inner J was given 30 days to comply with all the franchise requirements after filing their application.
“If the 30-day deadline is up, and you haven’t completed processing your franchise, you will not be granted one. If you continue to operate without reapplying, you’re still a colorum,” Elnar said.
Land Transportation Office – 7 (LTO – 7) regional director, Victor Caindec, also confirmed during yesterday’s session that the van, with license plate AED 1299, is registered as a private vehicle. “But the jurisdiction to determine if it’s a colorum or not is under the LTFRB’s authority,” Caindec told the legislators.