Montealto warns operators against use of their PUJs as service vehicle for voters

Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board Central Visayas Director Eduardo Montealto is asking PUJ operators to refrain from having their units used to ferry voters to the polling centers in Monday’s election to avoid the payment of fines. /CDN File Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Do not allow your Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) to be used to transport voters to their polling centers in Monday’s election.

Pujs used for the purpose can be considered as “colorum,” said Director Eduardo Montealto of the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7).

Operators and owners of colorum units that are travelling out of line may be fined P50, 000 as provided for in Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01 or the Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Law, Rules and Regulations Governing Land Transportation.

Montealto said that the Commission on Election (Comelec) also prohibits the transport of voters to the polling centers.

“Akong gipasabot sa ilaha, once mahimo mong public utility vehicle, ang tag-iya niana ang publiko na dili na kamo. So every time nga inyong gamiton for personal or naay special activity, mananghid gyud mo sa LTFRB pinaagi sa special permit,” Montealto said.

(I constantly remind owners that when you start to operate a PUJ, your unit becomes a public property. Every time you use said unit for a personal trip or a special activity, you will have to secure a special permit from LTFRB.)

In the absence of a special permit, the unit can be considered as colorum, Montealto said.

Montealto said that a representative of a bus company visited their office recently to apply for the issuance of a special permit for 20 of their units, but he denied the said application.

“Iya mang giangkon nga gamiton ang iyang bus para manghakot ug botante nga libre unya ang politiko ra’y mobayad. Nitug-an man siya sa tinood mao nga wala namo gi-allow,” he added.

(The company representative admitted that a candidate in Monday’s election offered to lease their buses and use these to ferry voters to the voting centers. He told us the real purpose for their application for a special permit that is why I did not allow it.)

“Bawal man sa Comelec ang paghakot ug botante, mao nga wala nato tuguti ang ilang application,” he said.

(The Comelec also prohibits the transport of voters to the voting centers that is why I did not approve of their application.)

Montealto said that special permit applicants have to personally apply at their office and pay the required fee of P170. But applications should be made at least two weeks ahead of time.

Violators will be meted with fines ranging from P6, 000 to P1 million that are provide for under JAO 2014-01.

The operation of a colorum bus is fined P1 million; Public Utility Vehicles and trucks – P200,000; vans – P200, 000; Sedans – P120,000; PUJs – P50,000; and motorcycles – P6, 000./dcb