By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Following the occurrence of recent viral road incidents in Quezon City and Valenzuela City which involved incident-causing—the so-called “kamote” drivers—the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged a full crackdown on reckless public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers on Tuesday, April 15.
This is in line with the mandate of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure stringent enforcement of road discipline and protect the welfare of passengers and other motorists traversing the country’s thoroughfares.
“The President is right. This has to stop. These drivers are a threat to public safety, and we will take them off the road,” LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said, echoing the Chief Executive’s call for safer public transport.
Guadiz also declared that franchise operators who fail to comply with regulations and hold their drivers accountable shall face administrative charges and even preventive suspension in certain instances.
“Driving a public vehicle is a responsibility. If you’re reckless, you’re out because it poses danger to people’s lives,” the LTFRB chief underscored.
Meanwhile, the franchising and regulation agency has deployed additional personnel and strengthened its collaboration with other transportation agencies and LGUs to beef up its campaign against PUV drivers who disregard traffic regulations and endanger their passengers.
As such, the LTFRB is urging commuters and motorists to report reckless drivers immediately through official channels to help rid public transport of undisciplined operators.
Commuters and motorists may report reckless drivers through the LTFRB’s official channels, such as its 24/7 hotline at 1342 or send a message to the LTFRB’s official Facebook page.
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