‘Oplan I-Love-U’ made taxi drivers behave

SPREADING THE LOVE. LTFRB Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon (in black coat) supervises the posting of signs in motels informing the public how they could reach the authorities in case they get to encounter abusive taxi drivers.

Police and transport authorities were on full alert yesterday against trafficking of minors and overcharging by taxi drivers as Cebu residents joined the world in marking Valentine’s Day.

Motels were inspected by police while staffers of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) placed signs  urging passengers to file complaints against abusive drivers.

Probably because of this “Oplan I-Love-U” of the government, which deployed teams vigilant against crimes that were common in previous  Valentine days, LTFRB Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said they received no complaints last year and this year.

LTFRB provided “Taxi Information Sheets” to motels which security guards will give to the passengers before they leave the establishment.

“They can write on the “Taxi Information Sheet” the name of driver, plate number and body number of the taxi so that when they have complaints we can immediately call the attention of the driver,” Cuizon explained.

The information sheet is also helpful in identifying taxi units when personal belongings are accidentally left behind.

The LTFRB yesterday focused on 12 motels because complaints in the past mostly came from customers of these establishments which do not have security cameras.
Cuizon said the LTFRB hotline (032) 231-6221 is manned throughout the day.

The “Oplan I-Love-U” was started in 2011 when the LTFRB received over 20 complaints. The number of complaints was reduced to only two in 2012 and zero in 2013.
Richard Cabucos, president of Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association, supports the program.

The police, meanwhile, asked security officers in motels to report minors brought into their establishments. Signs that say minors are not allowed were also posted.