‘Colorum’ bus firm fined P1 M

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has imposed a P1-million fine on bus company Dalin Liner Inc. for “colorum” operations.

The LTFRB said Dalin Liner’s authority to operate a public utility bus expired in 2001 and it illegally transferred a license plate to one of its buses. This penalty is the first one on colorum operations to be imposed under Joint Administrative Order 2014-001, LTFRB chair Winston Ginez said.

According to Ginez, the order also mandates that the colorum unit shall be impounded for three months.

The controversial JAO 2014-001 imposes heavier fines on traffic violations both by private and public vehicles. These include colorum and franchise-related violations.

Ginez said the company has 15 days to appeal the order and if this is denied, the bus firm could file an appeal with Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. It is only then that the order will be executory.