At least 66 colorum or unauthorized vehicles were caught being used as school service vehicles in Metro Manila during the first week of school.

 

The Land Transportation Office said the vehicles included buses, Asian utility vehicles, jeeps and tricycles, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported Thursday.

 

LTO Metro Manila head Teofilo Guadiz III was quoted in the report as saying the violators had no franchises, and were not registered.

 

Guadiz also noted that in many of the cases, the tricycles were overloaded, with the driver caught not wearing a seatbelt.

 

LTO operatives caught at least 10 of the colorum school service vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City alone last Monday.

 

They caught five more on Tuesday, and more than 50 on Wednesday, the report said.

 

Guadiz appealed to parents to ensure their children's safety by making sure their school service has the proper franchise and permit.

 

He also reminded tricycle drivers to make sure they accommodate only up to three passengers.

 

The dzBB report cited information that some tricycle drivers attract passengers by giving discounts if their tricycles are overloaded. –KG, GMA News