LTO to crack down on 'fake' ambulances, colorum vehicles offered on soc med

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has impounded more than 300 out-of-line or colorum vehicles in its ongoing intensified crackdown against unauthorized public vehicles as it trains its sights on fake ambulances and colorum vehicles offering services on social media.

The biggest haul in its first three days of operations came from Calabarzon with 168 apprehensions, followed by areas covered by the Central Office with 48, and Cagayan Valley where 45 colorum vehicles were impounded. 

Owners of these vehicles will be fined P200,000 for vans, and P1 million for buses. 

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, who inspected some of the impounded vehicles at the agency's compound, underscored the danger of riding colorum vehicles by stressing that these are not covered by insurance in an event of an accident. 

Lacanilao added that his office will widen its scope to track down fake ambulances, which transport passengers instead of patients to avoid traffic, and colorum vehicles advertised on social media.

The Department of Transportation's (DOTR) Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) stopped Thursday an ambulance after traversing the exclusive EDSA Busway.

Upon inspection, it was discovered that the vehicle did not have any emergency medical equipment and had the original seat configuration for passengers. 

The driver admitted that it was being used to transport passengers going for hospital check-ups.

"Sinasamantala kasi ambulance 'yung markings nila. Once na may sakay siya na pasahero at nagbabayad, colorum 'yun kasi ambulance siya tapos may upuan siya," Lacanilao said. 

(They attempt to abuse the systems through the markings on the ambulances. Once they take passengers who pay fares, that's already a colorum vehicle. These ambulances have passenger seats.)

Wang-wang, carpool

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson wants more random checks on siren-blaring ambulances especially during rush hour. 

"Drivers of vehicles with no emergency patients must be apprehended, their licenses revoked and charged, if warranted. Aside from annoying, they can be traffic hazards," Lacson said.

Lacanilao said the LTO will likewise crack down on illegal trips offered on social media pages in the guise of carpooling. 

"Once na maningil sila ng bayad 'dun sa pagka-carpool ay considered po ‘yun na colorum," he said. 

(Once payments are asked from carpool passengers, that's considered colorum.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News